Windshield sources

[Joel Severinghaus]

I'm thinking about replacing the one-piece blown windshield on my 46. My current windshield, although only a few years old, just isn't quite right at the wing roots -- the new wing root fairing bands required non-standard bulges rather than straight edges to fit against the windshield.

I've got a brand new aluminum bottom fairing strip from the factory, and the authentic rubber weatherstripping from Tom Baker. Even have spending permission from my wife (well, it comes out of my airplane allowance).

Aircraft Spruce lists L&P Aero windshields that "can be confirmed with serial and model number, year of manufacture, thickness of material and cross-reference with OEM part number" for $173. The Univair catalog just says "Tcraft BC12D windshield" for $205.

Anybody have experience with either of those windshields? Or can you recommend a better supplier?

[tcraft]

Re: Windshield sources

We received the following email at The Foundation last week -


To whom it may concern,

I just stumbled upon your foundation web site. I am making a replacement windshield for Warren Pietsch's "Swick Taylorcraft" that we had made 30 years ago. I was doing an online search for Mike Swick and found your site.

I have been manufacturing windshields with LP Aero Plastics, Inc. since March of 1970. We have manufactured the windshields for the Taylorcraft factories since before I arrived, but I do remember shipping many windshields to Dorothy Ferris in Alliance , Ohio. We were shipping to her long before I arrived. Our company was owned by Lee Cox at that time and he also owned Aircraft Supply and Repair, located at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, PA. We had supplied all of the windshields up through the F-19 and F-22 series aircraft in Lock Haven.

Each of the engineers along the way kept trying to change the contours of the windshield at the wing roots, but always kept coming back to the original design, which has always required some flexing during installation. I worked with Mike Swick in the early 1970's to make a .187" thick windshield longer than the original for his swept design. He would flatten the top of the windshield to make it fit. We also lengthened both the door post and forward areas of the windshield allowing for trim and final fitting.

We are happy to work with anyone in support of this fine aircraft. We do a lot of custom work directly, but all of our standard windshields and windows are purchased through our distributors and FBO"s.

Looking through your site has brought back memories and made me smile on the recollections.

Please feel free to contact me, if I or our company can help fill in any gaps. Feel free to put a link to our web site from yours.

Regards,

George Mesiarik
Vice President & General Manager
LP Aero Plastics, Inc.
1086 Boquet Rd
Jeannette, PA 15644-4707
1-724-744-4448 ext 233
1-800-9LP AERO ext 233
fax 1-724-744-3116
[email protected]

https://www.lpaero.com

[AndyDuke]

Re: Windshield sources

I bought a new windshield from Aircraft Spruce last year, not had a chance to fit it yet but on initial inspection it looks ok. You'll have to cut, drill and fettle with it to get it to fit though as they come slightly 'oversize' all round. That's deliberate by the way.

Andy.

[waltermrich]

Re: Windshield sources

I bought a Taylorcraft windshield from Aircraft Spruce and installed it last summer I used the old windshield as a pattern by placing it right inside the new one and markining it with a Sharpie marker. It was very easy and had little cutting, using a Dremmel tool with a cut off wheel ,went very easy. The entire job surprised me as to how quick it went. It looks great. Walter

[VictorBravo]

Re: Windshield sources

Aircraft Windshields in Los Alamitos, CA, ask for Judy.

They are good to work with in my personal experience, and may have a different mold or shape or style than the other suppliers. Call her and ask what is different about theirs, you may or may not get an answer that makes sense for your application.

Since our boy Joel is primarily concerned about originality, there may be some reason that the AC Windshield part is better or worse than the rest.

[N96337]

Re: Windshield sources

I'll echo Bill's sentiments about Judy at A/C windshields! I've dealt with them for years, and I guarantee you'll never get to work with better people, and you'll never find better customer service!! Once they shipped me the wrong tinted windshield, and when I called her (at 4:45pm her time) she told me she'd get right on it....to make a long story short, she shipped me another correct tinted windshield overnight at her expense (just shortly after my call..as it was at my shop the next day!!), and wouldn't take a thing for it. You don't find those kinds of people in the aviation industry very often anymore! Their fit is always as good if not better than any others I've tried, and I just can't say enough good about them.
John

[Arnold Wallace]

Re: Windshield sources

Joel,
I had excellent results with the product from Great Lakes Aero (if memory of name is correct) located in Flint, Michigan. Parts fit well and very happy with the performance of the plastic. Seems the prices were good also. Just my 2 cents.
Buzz
BC12D, A65-12, N96175

[t-crafter]

Re: Windshield sources

Bought two T-Craft windshield from LP Aero. used old windshield for patten, worked out great. Shipping cost is almost as much as cost of windshield !!

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Windshield sources

Yep, that's true about the shipping cost. I phoned Aircraft Spruce today, and they quoted $150 for UPS semi-truck freight from the L&P Aero factory in Pennsylvania. Don't anyone tell my wife...

[Ray36048]

Re: Windshield sources

Where are they located in PA?

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Windshield sources

Ray, LP Aero Plastic's address and website are in the second post above.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Windshield sources

LP in Jeanette, PA had been our source for years. WE used to buy 4-5 and then send a kid with a van to bring them home. Sure beat shipping charges. In the good old days the factory would do the same for the F-19-s.... they next real nice. For install, you can nest inside and then outside with the old windshild and split the grease pencil traceing. The windshields are not "blown" they are kind of draped over the mold, visit them sometime . Maybe drive to get your windshield ....