Wing tanks for 39 BC-65

[baldeagle27]

What are the wing tank options for a 1939 BC-65? 6 gallon aux tanks?

[piney]

Mine has a right wing tank and it holds six gallons.

[baldeagle27]

Did you install it, or did it come with the airplane? Do you have 13 rib or 15 rib wings?

[piney]

Came that way - I'll have to count the ribs, and get back to you on that.

My brother in law has a 39, and the spare tank is under the seat, with a wobble pump.

I like to wing tank much better.

[Robert Lees]

Could a 6-gal aux wing tank be installed in a 13-rib wing? Certainly no geometry problems? Drag wire problems?

Rob

[baldeagle27]

I don't have my Type Certificate Data Sheets handy, but is the 6 gallon wing tank listed in the equipment list? I helped install a 12 gallon wing tank in a Luscombe once, and the IA said that because the tank was listed in the TCDS no 337 was required, just a logbook entry, "Installed Item #XXX 12 gallon wing tank..." Does that make all of you IAs out there go, "NO!"?

Does anybody have a photo they can post of a 6 gallon tank in an uncovered wing?

[Robert Lees]

Yes.

Photo here

Full tank replacement story and more photos here

Rob

[baldeagle27]

OK, this internet thing is officially amazing. Thanks Robert, good stuff. What airport in England are you at? I was at Kemble a couple of years ago for their big fly-in, lots of Austers, but don't remember many Taylorcrafts.

[Robert Lees]

I'm at Leicester (EGBG), about 80 miles NE of Kemble.

There is usually a Taylorcraft or two at the larger fly-in...but there are only about 15 airworthy US-built Taylorcrafts in the UK. Five are at my home field.

What were you doing at Kemble?

Rob

[baldeagle27]

I have a friend over there who has a J-3, a BA pilot named Nigel Hitchman, who recently finished an RV-6 (I think it's a -6), and I was visiting him and some other friends. He used to keep the Cub at a private strip about 10 miles SW of Kemble, but is now Birmingham based and I think has moved it closer to there.

[Robert Lees]

Nigel is based at the same airfield as me. It is a -6, which he keeps at that strip you mention, but his J-3 is in our hangars. Leicester is about 25 miles east of Birmingham.

I was discussing brakes on Cubs and Taylorcrafts with him this weekend.

Small world!

[baldeagle27]

Well, one of these days I'm coming to visit. Nigel's Cub is the first G-registered aircraft in my logbooks, and I want an RV-6 ride. Would like to see the Taylorcrafts also.