Twice in a year!

[flylo]

Last June my hanger was hit by a straight line wind or tornado & it blew a friends MiniMax into my '38 Tcraft. It did damage to the rudder,one elevator & jury strut. I bought the parts but was in no hurry since I had back surgery & couldn't fly. Last Sunday night another storm hit 135MPH wind for 30 seconds. Totaled the hanger & stood the '38 Tcraft up in the corner. We're still carefully moving rubble to get to Tcraft. I want it out before the excavator gets there. It sure was a nice plane as those that seen it can attest. All original.wheel pants,large tach bubble face compass,original fire ext,open cowl w/ss exhaust,Chevy air cleaner. Only 200 hrs since complete rebuild. I'm just sick about it. A friend let me fly his Seirra today & it was fun but not the same. My hanger stood for almost 40 years & never a problem & 2 tornados in less than a year? Hangers a total,Tcraft's torn up,bummer.

[midniteflyer52]

Re: Twice in a year!

Eric,

I am so sorry to hear about your ship. It was probably the most pristine and authentic '38 out there. Keep us posted please. Some of us used the pics of that plane when John Hargrove was restoring it for our own reference. It was a great find and an exeptional restoration on his part. I'm sure that you will always be proud to be part of that plane's history.

Glen Brodeur
TF #42
Putnam, CT

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Twice in a year!

I feel for you Eric. While I have never lost a ship to a wind storm I have come close. I know the feeling you acquire when you suffer a personal loss. Some times it seems as though the deck is stacked against you.

Jim

[Bob Waldron]

Re: Twice in a year!

Eric,

I am saddened to hear of your loss. Hope you heal.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Twice in a year!

Eric,
You ARE going to fix it, right? As bad as it is you can't just let a beauty like that die. She will rise again, even better (if that is possible). There is plenty of support in the Tribe.
Be really careful pulling her out. You can't afford to get someone hurt. Don't give up. We are with you.
Hank

[flylo]

Re: Twice in a year!

Thanks for the support! Yes I'll fix it back. We got it down yesterday & in another hanger. I haven't flown it for a year & a half because of back surgery & was just getting to where I could get in it & fly it. I'll keep the tribe posted when I get started & will probably need lots of help & advice. Thanks! Eric

[Taylor Maid]

Re: Twice in a year!

Eric...I am sick for you. She was/is a beauty.

A moment of silence for her....

-_Suzy

[wmfife]

Re: Twice in a year!

Eric,

Sorry to learn about this. Here we have had some serious wind damage to planes left outside two years in a row apparently with several having been totaled... and I wonder sometimes who is going to be next.

But one thing you should be aware of: no matter what happens, it seems our planes outlive us. How do I know this?

Barely three years ago my Dad passed away. For the twleve years he had it from '74 to '86 it I would go riding with him in his 1947 Aeronca Champ almost every weekend. Then he totaled it during a bi-annual on takeoff after a flash flood (unknown to either aboard) had filled the fuselage with water. Both he and the instructor were in hospital with broken bones and it was written off by the insurance co. The fuselage had bent tubing and spars had been snapped. It was beyond repair.

But a couple of years ago I looked it up (the N-number is committed to memory for life) in the FAA files and guess what? It's alive and well and flown regularly by its current owner in CA!

Then I went and looked up the planes both he and I learned to fly in (all rag-wing Pipers), over forty years ago. Know what? -Same story! Two out of three are alive and well and still flying!

So before you or anyone gets ready to hold memorial services for your irreplaceable Taylor-Young, you might think about who you would want to will it to! Because one way or another we will (as the AAA slogan goes) "Keep The Antiques Flying!" I still have over twenty years of membership cards signed by the *other* Taylor, Bob Taylor. My first ride in a T-Craft was at Ottumwa /Blakesburg, almost thirty years ago. And I will never forget the sound of a Challenger-powered Curtiss Robin firing up the first year I was there.

It may look hopeless now. (-Believe me, I know. You should see what I'm up against in my '41 BL/65!) But never say die. Because quitters never win. And winners never quit.

I forgot who said that. But who cares. We are with you. The Tribe is strong. And we are all about preserving C.G.'s dream. Yours will live on. Don't give up.

Patience. One step at a time. That's what I tell myself. Together we'll get there.

Up and away.

[flylo]

Re: Twice in a year!

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll get it done. They just tore down the hanger Weds. I have a 52x84 hanger & 2 short airstrips at home. I had never poured concrete in the hanger so Mon they will start that & I'll wall off a workshop to re-do the '38 & finish the 160 HP amfib Tcraft float plane. I've heard you can't die till all your projects are done. Boy I hope it's true! Thanks again! Eric

[wmfife]

Re: Twice in a year!

"I've heard you can't die till all your projects are done. Boy I hope it's true!" - Eric

Boy, so do I! Because if it is I'll live another hundred years! Maybe two. I'm even slower than Hank.

Problem I think is mine's too original. Hard to throw out old parts /materials that you know you can't replace, even if they're worn out.

[flylo]

Re: Twice in a year!

That's me too. I might have something 5 years & as soon as I get rid of it I'll need it within a week. Every single time.

[Len Petterson]

Re: Twice in a year!

If you can't die before the projects are dune, why finish them?
A friend said : I planing to living forever and so far I am doing well.
We all have only one day at the time and you do your best today tomorrow takes care of it self.

The progress on any project is determinde by 2 factors: 1: Money 2: Time'
So while you are out making money you have no time.
When you have time for some reason you are always short of money!
The 38 will fly again!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Twice in a year!

Once the 41 is flying again, I always have the 45 in the barn and the Nieuport 17 design, the Taube and the Albartross. At the rate I move, I'll live FOREVER!
Hank

Plus, I'm working on manned space flight. With the Obama re-shuffle of money that won't move ahead for DECADES!

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Twice in a year!

I have the owner's manual for your Taube when you build it. I photo copied the 15 page original at Wright Patterson AFB Technical Library in the 1980s.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Twice in a year!

The Taube is actually two designs. The first is a single seat ultralight and the second is an experimental two seater. The killer was finding an engine that would work for it. The drag predicted was just a "little" high! Needs a really slow turning BIG prop.
I would really like to get a copy of the copies you did. It looks like one of those planes that could be built fairly cheap, but could only be flown in the confines of the airport property on a DEAD calm day! LOTS of fun to play with. They were suppose to be super stable and easy to fly.
Hank