F21 vs BC12D

[WillowBilly]

Is the gear on a F21 is any stronger than other Ts ? I am looking at an F21 that is around 1170 empty. All of my flying will be off airport on rocky strips. Am I correct in holding out for a stripped BC12d with no electric and 85+ HP???

[birdlegs]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Thats a big one friend,wait till the other guys weigh in. But it will take some doing to out preform an 870lb. BC12D with just under or right at 100 hp.
But thats just me.
Brad

[Dano"T"]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

I have a 90hp BC12d @800lbs EW......It is an amazing performer. For Bushwheels I'd go with the F19 axels

[Mark Julicher]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

I just got my copy of "Aircraft Owner" magazine and there is a BC12D-85 for sale for $22500

the ad says: 2608 TT, 964SMOH, 362 STOH, hangared, 720 com, electric

phone 541 688 6290

Maybe this is the one you are looking for!!

[Ragwing nut]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

F-21 gear is not really any beefier. Biggest difference is the cleaveland wheels and brakes. performance with the O-235 is very good. It all depends on what you are willing to pay as to which one to get.

[WillowBilly]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Hey Guys thanks for the help!! I have decided to keep looking for a 85+ non electric BC12d and plan on adding new axels, wheels & breaks. If anyone has one for sale let me know I really appreciate the help..

[Steve Long]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

I have an F-21 and it performs nicely. I put it on Aqua 2000's in the summer and use it on wheels and skis also. The 0235 is a nice running engine and with the seaplane prop I can get in and out of some pretty tight strips, or gravel bars that we use in AK. Mine is about 100lbs. lighter though too. Good luck in your search. Steve.

[KRW]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Hey Steve

That was a great picture of you and Don up the Knik. Hope to fly with you one day.

Krw

[AKbrew]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Steve,

I drooled all over your airplane Saturday. That is a beautiful bird! I am tied down about 4 rows in front of you in Alpha parking. Do you have a slip or will you be trailering it when you go to floats?

Jim

[murphy]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Steve,
I to am a fan of your airplane since seeing it on skies posted on this site some time back. I have never flown anything other than a 65 hp BC-12 and my F21A but for the money differance between them there is no question which one I would rather have. The F21 will not take off as short (by just a little) but will land shorter (great brakes and less float) climb a hell of a lot better, and carry plenty of camping gear in the baggage area. Mine is heavier than some but with 42 gallons of fuel and an IFR radio stack it is more usefull for me.
Mike

[Ragwing nut]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Steve,
I to am a fan of your airplane since seeing it on skies posted on this site some time back. I have never flown anything other than a 65 hp BC-12 and my F21A but for the money differance between them there is no question which one I would rather have. The F21 will not take off as short (by just a little) but will land shorter (great brakes and less float) climb a hell of a lot better, and carry plenty of camping gear in the baggage area. Mine is heavier than some but with 42 gallons of fuel and an IFR radio stack it is more usefull for me.
Mike

Your "A" or "B" may be heavier, but the '80 F-21 we had was nothing more than a BC-12D with an O-235. Even loaded it would out perform all the others we had, included the O-200 powered Deluxe thati recently finished. Other than the factory straight exhaust that was deafning, I really liked it.

[Steve Long]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Glad you guys like my plane. It really is a fun bird to fly. I did have an incident with it last month with it that scared me. I was up at a remote cabin on Chelatna Lake with my son-in-law. I took off ahead of him and was circling the lake making sure he could get off the ice with his 180 on wheel penetration skis. All of a sudden I smelled something really hot and then before I could think about it further, I got smoke in the cockpit!! I radioed him to stay where he was and I landed really quickly back on the lake. We discovered the prop seal had blown out so that oil was leaking all over and probably smoking off the exhaust.

We had to leave the plane for a few days and got a mechanic up there with a new seal. He got it taken care of pretty fast, but we discovered the oil breather tube had a low spot which had gotten frozen shut. Thus, the blown seal. I had seen before there was a hole near the end of the oil line, to let out pressure, but it wasn't close enough in and the low spot froze up. So, for winter flying I'd recommend looking carefully at the oil line to make sure there isn't anywhere it can freeze. I thought I had pre-heated well, as I have a Tannis system on it, but the oil line doesn't get much heat to it.

Jim, I will be trailering the plane when on floats, unless I get a spot on the lake. I am on the list, but down aways. I'll look for your plane out there.

KRW. We'll all have to go together with Don some time. He has some real adventures.

this is way too long. Sorry. Steve.

[AKbrew]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Oh heck Steve, the post wasn't long enough. If we're not working or flying it's not like we have anything better to do! Thanks for the info on the oil line.

Let's do all try to get together...at the very least the Lake Hood guys. Forrest wants us to try and get a picture of a bunch of T-crafts together, especially since most of the T-crafts are in Alaska now anyway! It would be a fun picture. I have 3571T and 3570T is only about 300 yards away. KRW has 3560T I believe, and there is another 3500 series nearby as well. Throw in an F-21 for good measure! Maybe we could do an excursion up to Knik Glacier or something.

[Tailwind]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Count me in if you go to Knik.

[Steve Long]

Re: F21 vs BC12D

Yeah, we'll have to plan an outing like that. Only trouble is, I'm not going to be available until after 5-13. A T-Craft fly-in would be a great idea. I heard the short wing Pipers had one at Skwetna recently. Later. Steve.