aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

[ken hecht]

AERO FABRICATORS TO MAKE TAYLORCRAFT VERTICAL FINS
Aero Fabricators, the manufacturing division of the Wag-Aero Group, has earned FAA approval to manufacture the Taylorcraft Vertical Fin for BC12-D aircraft. This fin is a direct replacement for OEM P/N D-A40. The company is also waiting for FAA approval to manufacture the Taylorcraft Stabilizer OEM P/N D-A419, Elevator OEM P/N D-A420 RH, OEM P/N D-A411 LH, and Rudder OEM P/N D-A410. For information on ordering Wag-Aero products, click here.

Just got this news from EAA hotline
Ken t.f #375

[Buell Powell]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

They will also have the Stabilizer to Fuselage @ Stabilizer to Fin rods available soon and should be letting us know when they are available @ prices. If anyone is needing them they can call Tom O'Neil @ Wag Aero for an update.

[T-Rex]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

They need to make landing gear with straight axles.

[astjp2]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

Hope their prices are better than univair's

[Edwin Otha]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

I've never been disappointed by Univair and never satisfied with Wag-Aero. I guess quality comes at a cost.
EO

[flyguy]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

Seems like airplane parts are a perpetual coin toss.

Hey Edwin, we're almost neighbors.

Darryl

[M Towsley]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

I am curious......I like the idea someone is producing parts for our airplanes, but is there that large of a demand for vertical fins for our airplanes? I can think of many, many other parts that would be useful to many more people today. You could spend a couple of hours on the Forum and find out what parts are needed. Not sure of the business strategy.

It worries me because these companies go to great trouble and expense to get these approved, and then the product just sits gathering dust. It wouldn't make me want to put anymore money into manufacturing and approval expenses if I can't sell what I just made.

I know the Foundation has contact with some of these 'manufacturers', at least Univair. I would think the 'manufacturers' would ask, or would know by now from phone call inquiries from owners about parts, what the Taylorcraft community needs more of. Just makes me wonder...???

[freightpilot27]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

I need a vertical fin.
Most everything else I have found through here, Barnstormers, and Ebay. I can make one, infact, I already have a jig built. But if I can buy one manufactured, I will spend the time on the the other 90,000 items on my Tcraft to-do list.

[rail]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

I've never been disappointed by Univair and never satisfied with Wag-Aero. I guess quality comes at a cost.
EO

Are Wag-Aero parts that bad???

Charles

[flyguy]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

Exhaust header from them works perfect. Other small items OK, too. I thought their prices were high for some time and then I found on some items their prices were lower than other suppliers.

Burned once, twice cautious. As I said, airplane parts, like most of life, are a coin toss.

DC

[T-Rex]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

My boss was always a little down on Wag Aero but we have been using them for many things since I have been around and don't really have any complaints. I think they kind of got a poor rap for selling a lot of non certified parts, but i see this changing and they seem to do fine work and are willing to go out on a limb with many things like the struts. We have PA-16 and they were going to do an AMOC on the wing struts and seal them like they do with our T-Craft struts. Univair SEEMS to have very high quality parts but you pay dearly for them, $1250.00 per side for landing gear with tapered axles come on. I put new dual (Aeronca) exhaust on T-Rex 3 years ago to replace the old that was rusted off for the last 2 to 3 inches. I paid more for the Univair exhaust because I thought I was buying quality. It is now rusting in the same way and I estimate I have another 3 years left unless I strip off the powder-coating and either redo it or ceramic coat it. I should have spent a little more to have stainless exhaust welded by AWI or ACORN. Just my $.02.

[M Towsley]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

A Luscombe friend of mine thinks Univair stuff is junk because the heat muffs, ($$$$), he purchased for his Luscombe appeared to be made of soda can aluminum. I have to admit, I wasn't impressed with it either. But just one puchase like this can really taint you for life. I have also bought stuff from Wag I wasn't overly impressed with.....

Bob,

I have a vertical fin, (no rudder), from an L-2, plus a lot of other spares from an L-2, that I was going to get serious about selling this year. Let me see if I have a picture of it.... I take that back, I think I do have the rudder....

[M Towsley]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

Sorry to hijack this for a second, this is for Bob.....

[T-Rex]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

Yes, I bought heat muffs to go with my exhaust and they are crap. Three years old and one will need to be replaced next year. Where they squeeze around the exhaust pipe the heat seems to make the muff blister and wear out very quickly. I dont know if it is some kind of dissimilar metal corrosion accelerated by heat and vibration or if the muff is just plain melting. I think the rough surface of the powder-coating does not help anything, that is why i was thinking of ceramic coating my pipes, then they would be smooth. But paying for perceived quality and getting junk. Ime not sure but I think some guys have had fit problems with the front and rear wing struts at the lower attach point rubbing. Dont remember if it was Wag or Univair though. I dont mean to bash these parts suppliers because they both do put out good stuff and I am thankfull that I can order stuff and get it. But this stuff is not cheap and should last more than 5 years.

[flyguy]

Re: aero fabricators to make taylorcraft vertical fins

Awwww. Now you guys have gone and scared me, Chuckle. I got struts that were not cheap, but were good from one, and an Luscombe type exhaust header from the other, and it was good also.

I was considering that one day I might have to replace my other exhaust, but now you have me all freaked out. LOL

DC