My First Flight in a Taylorcraft!

[Noof]

I had my first flight in a 1941 BC12-65 yesterday out of Lowell, Michigan, off the grass of course A little noisy as we back taxied 06. Perhaps a tailwheel upgrade? The A-65 started easily and purred once warmed up.

Great flight! I did steep turns and stalls and the owner practiced some landings with me shadowing the controls. This plane will definately make me a better pilot!

We are starting the annual next week and will pay close attention to all the things I have thought about and heard about from you guys.

Please permit me a couple of questions:

1. What are my options for rebuilding/replacing the exhaust? There is a rusted out area where the carb heat/cabin heat shroude wraps the left side side of the exhaust stack. It appears that it is not rusted through to the exhaust pipe yet. Complete replacement is not cheap!

2. Has anyone bumped and plenished replacement cowl bumps for ignition leads? Does someone sell replacements?

Looking forward to joining the foundation as an owner...soon.

Eric Nuffer
A&P student

[Pearson]

Re: My First Flight in a Taylorcraft!

Eric,

Congratulations! If your exhaust is stock, it is 2" O.D. You can get an extension pipe at the National Aircraft Parts Association (NAPA) and weld it on.

AC Spruce has the cowl bumps, but there are also short spark plugs available from somewhere.

[VictorBravo]

Re: My First Flight in a Taylorcraft!

If you have a cowl that is NOT "bumped" for the spark plugs then PLEASE DO NOT modify it!!!

Buy the "Ercoupe cups" from Fresno Airparts, which will allow you to install a shielded ignition harness without destroying your cowling. It looks better and works fine.

You will need to buy the "Ercoupe cups" for $28 each, then you will need to have a machinist re-thread the parts of the Ercoupe cups for a modern size shielded harness.

Alternatively, you can have the new shielded harness made with the correct size nuts to fit the thread on the Ercoupe cups, which might be easier and cheaper.

The problem is that the old style cups have 11/16 - 24 threads on them, and a modern ignition harness nut is 5/8 - 24. You MIGHT be able to special order the ignition harness with the larger size nuts, or you MIGHT be able to have aluminum nuts machined to 11/16 - 24 and then send the nuts to the ignition harness company to install on your harness.

Whichever is less expensive will surely work correctly.

If your cowl already has worn out plastic "bumps" and you just want new bumps, Wag-Aero and Univair sell good metal ones for Ercoupes that will work perfectly.

[Noof]

Re: My First Flight in a Taylorcraft!

Bill,

Unfortunately the cowl has already been tampered with. The existing bumps are in need of replacement (I believe they are aluminum.) Thanks for your respone.

Getting closer to purchase ,

Eric

[VictorBravo]

Re: My First Flight in a Taylorcraft!

Getting closer to purchase ,

Eric

Go for it. The cowl bumps are really a minor thing, most people's Taylorcrafts have bumps that are plastic, fiberglass, whatever, and they look awful.

My last Taylorcraft before this one has HOLES for the spark plugs and no bumps. The seller reported that it ran kind of warm on a warm day and was a little slower than he expected! DUH!

If the majority of the airframe is sound, and it is flyable, and an IA you know personally looks at it and will annual it, and it is $16K or less, I am guessing most of the old heads on this forum would advise you to go and buy it. That's my advice also, based on what you have written.

Welcome to owning the coolest old airplane out there and the most bang for the buck of 'em all. The T-craft will make you a better pilot, a happier pilot, and a less-impoverished pilot than any other plane.

[flylo]

Re: My First Flight in a Taylorcraft!

Eric.I'm southwest of you near C91 Dowagiac. Let me know when you get it & we'll go flying. Do they still have the missionary flight school at Lowell?

[fearofpavement]

Re: My First Flight in a Taylorcraft!

Eric.I'm southwest of you near C91 Dowagiac. . Do they still have the missionary flight school at Lowell?

Yes, the school is still there: http://www.smat-aviation.org/

I used to fly into C91 regularly during the late 1980's when I flew charter in west Michigan. Used to go and eat at the Round Oak. Is that restaurant still there?

[flylo]

Re: My First Flight in a Taylorcraft!

Yes it is. If you get this way,let me know & we'll go there.