African Taylorcraft Restoration

[CFLEEPIO]

Hi Guys,

Just got home with the few remaining bits and pieces of a Taylorcraft BC-12D ZS-BLH. Last flight was 1965 for Letaba Flying Club near Tzaneen in the old North-East Transvaal, where it crashed. I don't know the details but I will research this. The serial number stamped on the back of the throttle plate is 9762.

I will take some pictures in the morning, apparently the frame and bits have moved around quite a bit and I will follow up to find out the aircrafts history. All I have at the moment is the fuselage, landing gear legs, fuel tank and the tail feathers minus the fin. So this is going to be a long term project to source bits and pieces and rebuild the aircraft (unless I can find a derelect donor aircraft elsewhere). But it's something I've always wanted to do and it will help keep me active.

First question - does anyone have a contact for plans? I'll need a set to start off with.

Best Regards,
Charles

[crispy critter]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Charlie,
I know I speak for all when I say I look forward to seeing pics of your project. As for plans,contact Forrest Barber. He can provide them or if he can't he can steer you in the right direction.

[Robert Lees]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Welcome to the Taylorcraft Forum, Charles.

There is at least one other BC12D in South Africa (the owner of which we haven't heard from for several years)...I'll try do dig into my archives to find out what its reg is. Just be aware that a lot of "British" Taylorcraft are in Southern Africa, and these bear no relation to your BC12D.

When you use the term "plans", I assume you mean "drawings" (it's a certified aeroplane), in which case these are best got hold of throught Forrest (as Kevin suggests), but you would first need to join the Taylorcraft Foundation...details here

Sounds like you are short of wing parts. New lift struts, spars, ribs are fairly readily available. Compression struts (between the spars) and other miscellaneous parts can be found on the second-hand market (very largely in the USA, as I'm sure you appreciate). If you are doing work on the wings, it's worth doing the Harer mods to upgrade structural integrity to allow a bigger engine & higher gross weight while you're doing the work.

We will all try to help you in your endeavours. Keep us posted with progress & news.

I have sympathies with African fliers...I worked in Mombasa for just over a year, back in the very early Eighties.

Rob

[edit: Quick Google, using ZA Taylorcraft as the search string: An article (and B&W photo in a traditional scheme) on your very aircraft here . Photo below.

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Hi Kevin, Robert,

Thanks very much for the good wishes and information. Attached are pictures of the bits and my eldest son and I. Still cannot believe that I've taken the leap. I've mailed Forrest regarding the drawings and am awaiting his reply. I've also joined the Foundation and owners club and will be joining the SA Aero Club and EAA, probably Chapter 575, during the week. Benoni-Brakpan airfield is about 6nm. due south of where I stay and the nearest to me.

BTW Robert congrats on a well-done restoration, G-BREY looks a fine machine. Kevin, Crispy Crittur also looks absolutely fantastic - evidence of lots of hard work. I wish I had taken this decision long ago, son and I are going to also try keep our T-Craft as long as possible.

Just for interests sake was in the Kruger National Park the week before easter and saw "Duke", deposed big tusker. He's gone and broken both his tusks off in the last few months - pic attached.

Best Regards,
Charles

[crispy critter]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

It looks like you've got a good start. I might have a vertical stablizer but not sure. I know I have a boot cowl and some other odd ball stuff.

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Hi again Kevin,

Thanks for the offer. When you have time could you make a list of what you have to offer and maybe we can discuss filthy lucre. I need to weigh my options carefully though, as freight costs to here are heavy. Apparently there are some chaps out here who also have bits 'n pieces lying in hangars. I will be contacting them during the week to see what I can lay my hands on. Theres also a chap at chapter 575 who has a form (buck?) for pressing ribs. I will follow up on that as well.

There's an outside chance that there may be some derelect aircraft in Mozambique (B-models) and Angola (J2 Cubs). I'm not getting my hopes up though as these were registered in the 1930's and 40's and could have been scrapped years ago.

Charles

[RichardBoyer]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Ok, I gotta ask.....what are the spikey things for on top of the fence?

[guns68]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

because razor wire looks unsightly

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Unfortunately we have midnight wanderers who remove garden tools etc and I assume, pawn them. Spikes and razor or electrified wires are to discourage them jumping walls. At one stage I had 5 break-ins in 6 years. Now I have infra-red type beams and anyone wandering around my property will set off the alarm. Scary to be awoken at all hours by the alarm but have had only two alarms at night since 2002. Fortunately my garage/workshop is alarmed as well so my baby is relatively safe.

Regards,
Charles

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Charles: The following is from previous posts from fellow South Africans. Best wishes and good luck finding parts close to home. Sorry I don't have better leads on where they live or email addresses.

Carl

Obelix
Hi Carl

I must admit that things are a bit slow with the Taylorcraft this past few months. It was a very busy year and I got married about a month ago. With all the arrangements the TC was on the backburner for a bit, but I'm sure it will pick up in the new year. I'll make it a new years resolution.

We do not have white Christmas here in SA. We are in the mid summer with temps reaching 90degF. Even in winter we rarly see snow and dont see temperatures going much lower than 30 degF. I don't think I will survive your winter, even in ours I don't really want to do anything outside.
Good to hear from you Carl. My blessings for a wonderful X'mas and an even better new year.
Regards
Zak
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09-22-2008
Obelix
Hi Carl

It is always nice to share stories with other people with the same interests. I live in Pretoria but work in Johannesburg. About half an hours drive between the the two cities.

I'm glad you enjoyed the visit to SA. I haven’t been to the US, but I'm sure I'll visit some day.

It is absolutely amazing that your aircraft has been in the family for basically its entire life. I did my private pilots license about 5 years ago on a Cessna 150 and Piper Cherokee after dreaming of flying since I was a little boy.

And now at 29 finally I got my own plane. If all goes well I should have her ready to fly by mid next year. She is a 1946 BC-12D which has last flown in 1984. Got her with a Continentel O-200 engine. Still a lot of work to be done but I enjoy every minute of it.

Out of interest, a little bit of info on the Taylorcrafts of South Africa. I can't say exactly how accurate it is though.

Taylorcraft BC12D c/no 7752 (my aircraft) was the last of a batch of six aircraft imported into South Africa in 1946. The batch consisted of c/no. 7747 to 7752. All were assembled during the 1946 -'47 period and found their owners except 7752 which remained in its crate until 1955. It was registered ZS-CCW in April 1956. In 1982 it was re-registered to the vintage, veteran and home build category as ZS-VHL. In 1984 she was stripped to be rebuilt but the owner never got around to finishing the project. I'm now the 3rd owner since then and will make sure she returns to her rightful plays among the clouds.

Of the other Aircraft in that batch 7747(ZS-VXX) and 7750(ZS-BLD) are still flying. 7751(ZS-BLH) is also being restored. Unfortunately 7748(ZS-BLJ) crashed 23 August 1953 and 7749(ZS-BLL) crashed 13 nov 1960. Both were destroyed.

Hopefully we will have 4 Taylorcrafts in the SA sky soon.

Kind regards
Zak Kotze

Also, Jason van Schalkwyk in Johannesburg is working on a restoration.

[Robert Lees]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

I was in contact with Jayson (note the spelling) about tailwheels back in June 2003. He was an HS125-400 pilot back then, as well as owning the Taylorcraft...have heard nothing since then.

Also, Gavin Lundie owned ZS-BLX back in August 2002 (pictures below).

Both of them were on the old Topica email list back then.

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Hi Guys,

The airframe I've bought is Jayson van Schalkwyk's, his job at Execujet is keeping him too busy. I'll need to do more research on the serial number though as I was under the impression that this airframe was ZS-BLH. The only number I can find is on the back (i.e. facing forward) of the panel throttle plate. This number is 9762, is this not possible a fuselage assembly number and there should be a data plate (missing) with the aircraft serial number elsewhere? I'll have to research this some more. Thanks for all the info and pics though, most helpful.

Best regards,
Charles

[NC36061]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Charles,

Here is what the FAA says about your SN (yes that is the SN you are looking at):

FAA Registry N-Number Inquiry Results

N95362 is Assigned

Aircraft Description
Serial Number 9762
Type Registration Individual
Manufacturer Name TAYLORCRAFT
Certificate Issue Date None
Model BF
Status Revoked
Type Aircraft Fixed Wing Single-Engine
Type Engine Reciprocating
Pending Number Change None
Dealer No
Date Change Authorized None
Mode S Code 53241421
MFR Year 1946
Fractional Owner NO

Registered Owner

Name NORMAN COY R
Street 1821 CLARK LANE
City REDONDO BCH State CALIFORNIA Zip Code 90277
County LOS ANGELES
Country UNITED STATES

Airworthiness

Engine Manufacturer CONT MOTOR Classification None
Engine Model A&C65 SERIES
A/W Date None

The record does not state the date or reason for revocation of registration; perhaps for export, but that doesn't make sense if your airplane were exported from the factory....the BF model designation doesn't make any sense either, should be a BC12-D....SN 7751 does not appear in the US registry....good luck sorting this out Perhaps the most likely scenario is that SN 7751 fuselage was damaged or destroyed and SN 9762 fuselage was acquired as a replacement??? I hope this helps in some way,

Dave

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Dave,

Thanks so much for that info, much appreciated. I'm hoping to meet up with a chap by the name of Mike Spence from Chapter 973 in Krugersdorp (our West Rand) on Saturday. He is the gentleman from which the frame originates and may add more to this story. I believe he also has a couple of hangars of bits and bobs - including Taylorcraft parts. So I'm hoping he can help with some of my missing bits.

Thanks once again and I'll post my progress here.
Best Regards,
Charles

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

To everyone: This site is absolutely the best there is in helping each other with airplane issues. For Charles to sort everything out, totally by himself, would be much more difficult if it weren't for the unselfish acts of helping fellow owners of a Taylorcraft. Thanks to all who keep this asset going.

Carl