Another Door Mystery

[VictorBravo]

Being an addict, I always try to encourage other innocent people to become addicted as well, so that my misery will have additional company.

In that malevolent spirit, I have entangled yet another unsuspecting person into this wicked den of hopeless addicts. A non-aviation type, he originally was allowed to believe he was simply responding to a Craigslist ad for a cheap golf cart in my hangar... now four months later I have him going tomorrow with money in his hand to buy a Taylorcraft one state away, and looking for a Light Sport instructor.

He is looking at a VERY nicely restored BC-12D, done by a world class restorer with more than one Grand Champion airplane award. The photos I saw (and the information in the ad) show a 1946 post-war airplane, but with what appear to be pre-war doors with the swing-out window.

I called the restorer (an old friend of mine) and he remembered doing this airplane 20 years ago. But he said he did not change anything about the doors, or put pre-war doors on a post-war airplane... he restored and cherry'ed out what was there already.

Was it ever done like that at the factory to anyone's knowledge? Pre-war doors also mean the smaller pre-war door opening, and likely the narrower fuselage (no wood formers at the door opening). Anyone know if that was a common field mod for some reason? Why would someone want to retro-fit the pre-war doors on a post-war airplane out in the field after it was built?

[NC36061]

Re: Another Door Mystery

No mystery Bill. The terms "pre-war" and "post-war" don't really apply to doors. More appropriately they are "original type" and "late type" doors. The original door type with swing-out window was retained after post-war production resumed until the door was redesigned sometime around mid-1946. The change was mostly done to give the illusion of easier entry and exit as the original door opening still exists due to the exposed down tube. Hence there are 1946 airplanes with both "original type" and "late type" doors.

Dave

[flyguy]

Re: Another Door Mystery

Interesting tidbit of info. I can't remember, do all the old-style doors have the tapered window? Does anyone but me think the tapered window looks more attractive from the side than the rectangular one?
I like the way the bottom of the window parallels a line drawn from the front of the plane to the tail.
DC

[VictorBravo]

Re: Another Door Mystery

Does anyone but me think the tapered window looks more attractive from the side than the rectangular one?

No, you are not alone in your padded cell Darryl, the pre-war airplanes are indeed a bit more visually attractive than the post-war airplanes because of the shape of the window and the fact the door itself is smaller. We all just need to shrink ourselves down to the size of the models in the 1940's brochures...

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Another Door Mystery

1945 models had prewar doors on them. They also had built up ribs in the wings, 15 count like all Deluxe models, but have post war leading edges. I don't know exactly what serial number changed over to the aluminum doors, but I had a '46 built in February with wood door frames, and aluminum doors.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Another Door Mystery

If your friend is really lucky those doors may be the "tube" type. The pre-war doors were wood, followed by the tube types and then (I think) a few very slightly different sheet metal ones. I know my 41 wood doors and 45 tube doors both had the swing out windows but don't know if any of the metal doors did. I REALLY like the swing out windows, but check the hinge screws to the frame very carefuly. If the hinges are loose you can loose the window if you open it in flight.
Hank

[VictorBravo]

Re: Another Door Mystery

The airplane that my friend went to see (and subsequently bought) appears to have the early tube/fabric style door. I have not seen the airplane personally yet so I cannot say if it has stamped or truss ribs and how many ribs. What I could see from the photos was the later style trim tab (in the port elevator) and the smaller door with the tapered swing-out window. It is serial number 6879 which according to Chet's book makes it a relatively early BC-12D. Maybe late 1945, maybe early 46, I have no idea.

[flyguy]

Re: Another Door Mystery

In 1982 I owned 39932, tube doors, lift windows and truss built up ribs. I am fairly sure it was built in Dec. 1945, as I remember thinking that they managed to just get it built before '46 and they must have tooled up really fast after V-J day.

As I have mentioned before it was really light and had a 85 carb on the 65 engine with a long prop. In cool weather it would still do 300 per minute at 12,000. Funny the guy who bought it from me to rebuild said almost everything in the engine was worn out.

I think I would like to pare some weight off the -85 that I have now.
DC

[flybikefarm]

Re: Another Door Mystery

I own 39972, certified Jan. 2,1946. It has fabric covered tube frame doors with swing out windows. The wings have built up ribs. George

[KewFlyer]

Re: Another Door Mystery

NC 39991 was built in Alliance OH, Type 2PCLM serial No 6650, built on December 22, 1945. Test flowned by R. Edwards Jan 12, 1947 for 25 min and then on Jan 13, 1947 for 30 min. It has the tube and fabric doors with hinged windows. Door locks are a small piece of metal that fits into a metal slot...no handles, strike plates ..etc.... as the other one we have which was built in May 1947 and it has metal doors, sliding windows and door handles.

[jmvolpp]

Re: Another Door Mystery

I have a BC12D1 (N44305/Oct46) with sliding window in the port side and fixed window in the starboard side, and only, door. Does anyone have a sliding window that could replace the fixed one?

Or would it be legal, not to mention preferable, to build swing outs to replace both?

Mike V.

[Marv]

Re: Another Door Mystery

I put a platic vent in mine that i bought from Wag Aero. It worked well for me. Marv

[lfries]

Re: Another Door Mystery

I have sliding windows on both sides.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Another Door Mystery

If your friend is really lucky those doors may be the "tube" type. The pre-war doors were wood, followed by the tube types and then (I think) a few very slightly different sheet metal ones. I know my 41 wood doors and 45 tube doors both had the swing out windows but don't know if any of the metal doors did. I REALLY like the swing out windows, but check the hinge screws to the frame very carefuly. If the hinges are loose you can loose the window if you open it in flight.
Hank

I did not clarify, but they would be the fabric tube doors as everyone else has mentioned

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Another Door Mystery

My 45 has a wood trim tab too, not metal like the later 46 and my 41. Seems they used what was workable in the early post war planes. By the way, I like the wood tab MUCH better than the sheet metal one. It fits better, is cleaner and looks better than the metal ones on most of the other Taylorcrafts I have looked at. Seems like the wood tabs I see are always on planes built just after the war.
Hank