What's In A Name

[1938BF50]

I have been following the "A PILOTS AIRPLANE" thread with lot's of interest! I had no idea that the "T-CRATE" lingo was offensive to any in the group. I certainly understand that it could be somewhat demeaning. So here's the problem. I have been thinking of names for the plane since buying it and learning of it's Roscoe Turner history(he bought it new in 1938). I kinda sorta have been leaning towards some well executed nose art showing an open packing crate with a caricature Taylorcraft "B" falling out with the words "CRATE '38 and COL. ROSCOE TURNER" stencilled on the crate itself.

Soooo......any thoughts? I am open to suggestions, jump in all!

[Forrest Barber]

Re: What's In A Name

I vote for "Buttermilk Laments" or "Gilmore"

[mulwyk]

Re: What's In A Name

"Roscoe"!?

[crispy critter]

Re: What's In A Name

I am so sorry to do this Forrest buuuut..... Mike I like the crate idea.It's cute,funny,historical to the airplane and it has a good story behind it. There was a couple of the guys on the Memphis Belle that did't agree with it's name at first just because they wasn't from Memphis but look at the story she had to tell. I had a Beech 18 that had "Dirty old Bitch" wrote on the nose because she was(at first) a dirty old bitch. I always got a lot of comments on the name,some good,some bad,and a mother at an airshow with a 6 year old who could read really well took it real offensivly and proceeded to cuss me out when her son ask what Dirty old Bitch meant(and boy did she ever CUSS me out for displying such vulgarity in public,and she did so right in front of her 6 year old son....fine example wasn't it.lol). My point is that just because a few people don't like it doesn't mean it's not right for you. If you like it,use it and don't worry about what anyone else says about it.

[48fordnut]

Re: What's In A Name

Probably in the person ability to look at life. I have been around t-carts since 48' and find nothing offensive at all. Thats just me.

[VictorBravo]

Re: What's In A Name

Mike, if you call it "Crate '38", then there is no tie-in with the Taylorcraft or the letter T, so some of the cleverness will be lost.

Perhaps "Roscoe's '38 T-crate" or "Roscoe's T-crate... circa 1938" might be a little more fun, and you can have a caricature of the Colonel himself opening the box and pulling out the smiling airplane. (With the lion cub watching, of course).

I have a set of reproduction "Roscoe Turner" aviation wings for a flight jacket. There was a guy on ebay selling them at a reasonable price a few months ago, maybe five or eight dollars. If you can get the original artwork from him, a drawing of those wings would make a nice addition to your nose art.

[N96337]

Re: What's In A Name

I had a Beech 18....
If you like it,use it and don't worry about what anyone else says about it.

Kevin, you have great taste in aircraft! I totally agree about the name too.. if YOU like it, don't worry about everyone else... I'm so sick of all the "politically correct" stuff anymore.... if someone doesn't like something, they don't have to pay any attention to it...
JH

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: What's In A Name

Mike,
I didn't know you ended up with Roscoe’s plane! That plane was in the hangar at the end of my row for YEARS and I always hoped it would end up in the hands of someone who would do it up right. There were a TON of old parts with it when it was down from me including lots of old moldy interior parts I was afraid someone would trash before they made a pattern. I still have some photos I took of it when we loaded it in the trailer around here somewhere. There was even still an original battery box attached to the floor boards and the bracket for the old fire extinguisher.
The real tragedy is when it went in the hangar it still had Turners covering on it and the owner didn't think it was valuable. He stripped all the fabric off and trashed it, along with ALL the original markings it had when he flew it. WHAT A LOSS! Doesn't ANYBODY have any pictures of it in its glory years?
As I remember the plane was a mess when I helped load it but not beyond saving. Do her up right and no one will mind if you DO call her a T-Crate! HISTORY REBORN!
Hank

[1938BF50]

Re: What's In A Name

Hank,

Ya got me so excited, I can't stand myself! I have been digging for history and info since I bought the plane last spring. While negotiating on the purchase, I ordered the paper history from the FAA and was pleasantly surprised to see Rosco as the first owner in Nov of 1938. I am currently the 29th owner! I doubt any of the other owners realized it's history. I showed some of this paper to Forrest at the fly-in and he was as excited as I. Unfortunately the first test log is missing so Forrest could not give me details of any factory info. If you have ANY pics or history of NC20407 PEASE forward to me asap! I am not sure where you live or saw the plane (make sure it was 20407) but the only "idle" time in its paper history was a 9 year period in the 60's. Does this dovetail with your observations? I recently submitted a query to NASM Garber Facility to research their Turner collection to see it any thing turns up concerning 20407. Late 70's, the entire Indianapolis museum/collection was donated to NASM.
History books suggest that Roscoe started training with Taylorcrafts at Central Aeronautical Copr(Indy Municipal) in 1940 or 1941. My plane and paper would suggest that it was actually Dec 1939. No doubt that the plane was a trainer at CAC. It did leave the factory with 5# of overstuffed leather upholstery. The original options list does not list a battery as you indicate. I see lot's of indications that the original metal was Curtis Robin Orange. Of course I have no clues as to fabric color/design. IF ANYONE HAS ANY PICS OF THIS PLANE IN IT"S ORIGINAL CONFIG, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM. I am in the process of recovering the wings and tails surfaces this winter. I will restore the fuselage in a couple years. I owe it to the Taylorcraft name to do this one up right. I have a gal in out graphic arts dept helping me with concept sketches for the "nose-art" which I am now thinking will be enlarged and placed mid fuselage when the time comes.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: What's In A Name

I'll try and dig out everything I have. The pictrures are on an old computer that suffered a real melt down so I will scan all the pictures to make sure they are clear of "nastys" prior to sending them. I would recommend you scan them AGAIN when you get them prior to opening "just in case". Three scans should insure I won't be sending you any bad infections (one as I pull them to my good machine, one as I open them and one at your machine prior to you opening them). This machine is off line now because I don't trust it any more. It got some BAD virus or something and sits in the corner isolated now. The problem actually didn't seem to bother pictures but no sense taking any chances (the machines I have been on for the last couple of years HAVE NOT been infected.....yet)
Hank