Wheel Pants/Fairings

[M Towsley]

There was discussion on this topic some time ago, however, it died off without any resolution. Have any sources for wheel pants/fairings been developed? What are the members using? I have seen some nice looking ones on some Taylorcrafts in magazines, etc., but no source information. Also, how do these attach and what parts/brackets are required? Detailed information, please, as I would like to put a set on mine. Thanks to all for any contributions.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Are you looking for wheelpants or pant fairings? Exact glass wheelpants have been sold for 15 years.

Mike

[M Towsley]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Well Mike,

I'm not sure. Every catalog I look at uses the term wheel pant and wheel fairing as an interchangeable description. Therefore, I can either draw you a picture or tell you I'm not looking for the item that looks like a fender that does not cover the complete wheel. And, are you going to tell me where the fiberglass pant that has been available for the last fifteen years is available from, besides Wag Aero, or keep me in suspense? It would be nice if you did not come across as if you were talking to a small child.........Thanks.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Marty, what style of wheel pant are you looking for? I think the exact glass pant he was talking about may not be available anymore. A.S.S. used to list them, but they are not in the latest catalog. They were made in CA. Dad sent them a metal pant to use to make the mold. I don't know what happened to the company or the molds. Pre war pant brackets were cast, and post war were fabricated from sheet steel. They attach to the bolt that holds the bottom of the tie strut. The outside mount slides in the axle. Tom

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Item # 305 Wheelpants... Wheel fenders were made by Consolidair and were kind of a half pant. Model l5-20 used "wheel streamlines". Check out Taylorcraft photos, the all aluminum ones are rare. Harbor Ultralites had the best copy in Fiberglas I have ever seen. Wag-Aero has a decent copy ( all there stuff is made right here in Hartville, Oh.) the mounting brackets are the thing to look for!! Live & learn is a good motto

[M Towsley]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Tom,

I guess asking if you have any squirreled away down there in Olney-Noble wouldn't help!?! I'm looking for the type that pretty much cover the entire wheel, like the ones Don Claude has on his white T-Craft up in Poplar Grove, IL., N96440. (Just saw a picture of his plane in an old EAA Vintage magazine. I'll give him a call today). Which are better mounts?

Forrest,

I'm trying to learn and have it not cost me any extra money!!! Are the Wag-Aero mounts alright? What do you think of their 'Taylorcraft wheelpant'? I'll search in a second, but is Harbor Ultralights still in business? I know the original Taylorcraft ones were obviously cast in gold, as the secondary market value on the original ones is fairly high.

I also saw on the new Taylorcraft sight an option for the Taylor Sport are wheel fairings. Maybe I will give them a call, but I think they are using Cleveland brakes, do you think that will matter? Again, I've never seen a wheel pant on a Taylorcraft in-person, yet.

Thanks for the help!

[dedrekon]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Marty,
I have a set of the fiberglass fairings mounted on the landing gear out in my garage right now. I don't want to sell (OR donate) them, but I'd be glad to take all the pictures you want.....let me know.

Vincent

[M Towsley]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Vincent,

That would be wonderful. Where did the pants come from? Still available for sale somewhere? You can send the pics to my e-mail. Thanks again!!!

[dedrekon]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Here's the style I have......no idea where they came from originally. They've been on the plane for at least 30 years. They are fiberglass, not metal. I do believe you pick up a little in cruise with them on.

[dedrekon]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Oops....I meant to send this picture along.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Harbor Ultralight products makes an exact copy of prewar and postwar t-craft wheel pants. Tom Baker sent them an original when he first did his De Luxe around 1988 and they duplicated them right down to the seem lip across the top for the prewar pants. For postwar, you get them without the lip and find some damaged original pants to get the chrome strip off them. A/C Spruce use to carry them in their catalog, but I don't see them in the new one. I have gotten welded up brackets from Wag Aero but the original cast ones are very hard to find.

Mike

[M Towsley]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Hey Vincent,

Thanks, I got the pictures. Makes things a little clearer, now. That style is fine with me, I just have to find a pair now...............

[jCandlish]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Hi M Towsley

Here is the deal with wheelpants as I experienced it.

I searched for wheelpants for about 1 year before purchasing post-war items from drude. I am not on the American continent so that makes it a little more difficult for me, but I have taken contact with many members of this forum whilst searching for prewar pants as illustrated below.

I have been lead to believe that there exist plugs for the production of fibreglas copies of pre-war pants.

The most promising lead I have had was my contact with Mr Lahti of http://www.lahtiaerospace.com/prod01.htm who mentioned that he had been in touch with Forrest at last years Oshkosh for the purpose of obtaining patterns with which to make carbon fibre taylorcraft pants.

It seems that finding (pre-war) Taylorcraft Wheelpants will require the collaberation of many.

Cheers
jCandlish
.

[Ray36048]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Yes, the selection in Aircraft Spruce is now limited. What is the difference between the MF-5 Wheel fairing in Spruce at $164 vs the Wag Aero M-050-000 at $360? The pictures seem to be the same. I also do not like the shape of these compared to what was available before.

[Yellow Duck]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Here is a pic of my wheel pants. Don't really care for them. Too large, but some like them. I prefer the orginal style, much smaller also. They are from an C-172