Serial numbers

[TcraftPhil]

Hey everyone, I havent been around in a while, I have a hanger full of Tcraft parts that someone said was a complete aircraft!! No one can imagine what I have gone through in the last months trying to decipher what everything is, what its called, getting adivce by emailing and recieveing email pictures. Everyone on here who is helping me has been a dream, so the dream of getting this bird back in the air is becoming a reality! My question is, I have a fuselage that has been blasted primed and ready for paint. I found the serial number but I have no idea where to find the history, or exactly what model, and what year. The Ins panel I have is the one with the HUGE tach, and thats about all I know... the serial number is 3326 If ther is anyone who can put me in the right direction, please please please let me know, one guy on here (who has gone above and beyond to help me) said it was probably pre war. The urgency of this is compounded by the fact that I am about to purchase spars for both wings, however, I dont know if the spars are the same for a BC a BF an F....

Thanks in advance!!!

Tcraft Phil

[VictorBravo]

Re: Serial numbers

The Ins panel I have is the one with the HUGE tach, and thats about all I know... the serial number is 3326 If ther is anyone who can put me in the right direction, please please please let me know, one guy on here (who has gone above and beyond to help me) said it was probably pre war. The urgency of this is compounded by the fact that I am about to purchase spars for both wings, however, I dont know if the spars are the same for a BC a BF an F....

Phil, if the large tachometer is the original setup, then your airplane is likely a pre-WW2 T-craft. According to Chet Peek's book the serial number is also indicative of a pre-war airplane.

Does your fuselage have about a 1/4" or 3/8" diameter steel rod that comes out of both sides of the fuselage at the back, about halfway between the top and the bottom of the fuselage, and about a foot forward of where the tailwheel goes? even if you do not see this rod, There is a pivot tube there welded into the fuselage... the steel rod mounts into this pivot, and two small oval shape metal "flippers" mount onto this rod. This is the elevator trim mechanism used only on the pre-WW2 Taylorcrafts. Only a few BC-12 "DeLuxe" airplanes were built in 1941 that did NOT have this trim system, the majority of the pre-war airplanes have the little flippers for the trim.

Look at the doors. The pre-war T-crafts mostly had windows that were hinged at the top, the bottom of the window swung outwards about 15 or 20 degrees to open them. Also on pre-war doors the top and bottom edges of the windows were not parallel. The back of the window was a little shorter than the front of the window.

Does your engine cowling have large openings on the left and right side for the engine cylinders to stick out (and only one small opening in the front for the propeller shaft) or does your front cowling have two large triangular openings in the front and no large openings on the sides?

The GOOD news is that chances are that you have a very historically important airplane that is well worth owning. The BETTER news is that all the effort you put into restoring it will be very well rewarded both financially and personally. The BEST news is that you will be rewarded with an airplane that 70 years later is still the most cost-efficient, fuel-efficient, and classiest of it's type. The SPECTACULAR news is that the "antique" airplane you will be flying is still 100% relevant as a sport aircraft today, represents a much better value than any other similar aircraft, it will teach you valuable skills and it will definitely take you on the greatest adventures of your life...

Congratulations, you just hit the affordable/capable/fun/efficient/high class airplane jackpot !

[TcraftPhil]

Re: Serial numbers

WOW!! I thought I was excited before, but now!!!

Thank you for the info, I am going to be in the presence of the aircraft on Wednesday, I am going to print this thread off and take it with me. If you can think of anything else, please let me know!

Thank you for your encouragement, its going to be a wild ride!

Phil

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Serial numbers

Everything fits with what I think have here too. Mine was made in Feb. of 41, has the windows that flip out from the bottom, has the 3 bar chrome trim on the cowl like the pic. above in the heading, no flippers, but has a standard trim tab, has the fancy two piece instrument panel, and banjo type control wheels. The only thing I am missing is the Deluxe nose bowl with the cast grills for the cowl openings...Grrrrr
Larry

[flylo]

Re: Serial numbers

Prewars also have 3 hinge rudders.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Serial numbers

My 41 also has a regular trim tab on the elevator, wood doors with the "flip up" window, enclosed engine and "fancy" two piece instrument panel. Mine has the less fancy control wheels (like an upside down heart with the point cut off- kind of rare).
I am betting that if you have the BIG tach, you also have the BIG round wheels.
Things to look for when you see the plane in person,
1) It will have the "built up" wings and there may be a LOT of broken ribs. They CAN be fixed, it isn't a reason to reject the project.
2) The wood doors will probably be cracked in the vertical areas in front and back of the window. Get with me if so and I can show you how to fix them so they won't break again.
3) The "Flipper" trim wing has a tendency to have pretty low authority. Don't let it bother you. The control forces on a Taylorcraft are pretty low anyway.
4) The stringers will be wood and are probably broken. They aren't that hard to make.
5) Get ALL of the "junk" that goes with it and don't throw ANYTHING away! THAT INCLUDES MOLDY OLD CARPET AND HEADLINERS! Those patterns are PRICELESS when you start doing interiors over again. DON'T breath the C**P that comes off of them. You will wheeze for a week (if it doesn't give you a lung infection and put you in the hospital- don't ask how I know). Seriously, KEEP the stuff, but handle it with a mask.
Good luck and enjoy one of the BEST of the best, a pre-war Taylorcraft! They are LIGHTER, more comfortable, more FUN and all around BETTER.
Hank

That last part should cause a few comments. ;-)

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Serial numbers

Good luck and enjoy one of the BEST of the best, a pre-war Taylorcraft! They are LIGHTER, more comfortable, more FUN and all around BETTER.
Hank

That last part should cause a few comments.



I agree!!! Yeah mine has the three hinge rudder but metal doors, wood stringers, and enclosed cowl. Oh, almost forgot, I also have the broken built up ribs by the dozen!
Larry

[cropduster]

Re: Serial numbers

It's funny how they are all a little bit differen't. My pre-war 41, ser#2616 has the wood doors with the fold out windows from the bottom, trim indicator, and also the two piece dash and the chrome trim on the frount of the cowling. Aslo has the banjo type control wheel. I am just finishing the ground up restoration of this airplane, and still need the trim tab that goes on the left elevator, if someone knows of one, please let me know. cropduster

[VictorBravo]

Re: Serial numbers

Oh, almost forgot, I also have the broken built up ribs by the dozen!
Larry

Get a hand rivet squeezer and start repairing those ribs.

Whether it is original or not, I think the Piper rib repair strips can be made to work with T-craft ribs??? Over time, you can put together a set of ribs that will allow you or someone else to rebuild a wing and get another airplane in the air.

[Joe Jessop]

Re: Serial numbers

I own s/n 3328 its a 1941 BF12-65 N39111 we are pretty close in s/n#

[DanBrown]

Re: Serial numbers

I own s/n 3328 its a 1941 BF12-65 N39111 we are pretty close in s/n#

Phil,
I looked at the FAA registration databse -- 3328 is the closest to your serial number listed. You might call or email Forrest Barber -- he has books that list all the Taylorcrafts by s/n, he has the exact date of manufacture, the N number and who made the first test flight before delivery.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Serial numbers

My "41" serial # is 2540, I believe it was manf. in Feb. I just spent this evening in the shop making the riveted tool box that Vans RV sells just so I could learn about riveting. I bought a hand squeezer and have that about down. All I have left to do on the tool box is mount the handle and I will have no excuse not to start on my ribs. I have made repair sections out of old Tcraft and Piper ribs. My goal is to have at least one wing and maybe both rebuilt, ready for cover by spring. I need to rebuild the ribs plus bore all holes and varnish my beautiful new spars.
Larry

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: Serial numbers

My'40 BC-65, is Ser.# 2466, NC29624, and was built 12-10-40.

Carl