L2m / DCO-65

[GLB]

Hi Guys, can anyone tell me if a L2M ever had metal spars and ribs? My first airplane was a L2M/DCO-65 and it had an all wood wing(spars and ribs) as I recall.
The reason I ask is I just visited with a gent and he said his plane had metal spars and he thought metal ribs, and I'm thinking its not original.

[tawadc95]

Re: L2m / DCO-65

Dick Huish will know,he is working on a mystery ship for me now too!

[Dick Huish]

Re: L2m / DCO-65

Gary, the only model "D" (Tandem) Taylorcraft that were built with metal spars and ribs were the approximatly first one hundred built. They were all straight back ships (no greenhouse or swivel rear seats) after that they were all wood wings. There could be other "D"s with metal wings taken off early ships as the fuselages were built so that either wing would fit. The exception being most of the L-2M's had the bushings welded in so that the metal spars wouldn't slip in. Dick

[GLB]

Re: L2m / DCO-65

Thanks Dick, so this ship could possibly have wings from a early plane. The Gent said it has the greenhouse and swivel seat, but has no spoilers and its a 1942 model.
My DCO-65 had a wood wing and the spoilers, I really liked that plane but like a fool I sold it and moved on.
GB

[Dick Huish]

Re: L2m / DCO-65

Rather than redesign the fuselage when they went to wood spars they made the spars thicker so that the butt fittings would slip over the fuselage fittings and inserted bushings in between the ears so that you couldn't bend the fittings. It's possible to have metal spar wings. A lot of the o-57A/L-2A's were built in 1942. Check the elevator trim mechanism and see if it uses a crank or slide control. Let me know. Dick