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Back in the Air!
She last flew in 2004 before I decided to do a complete tear-down and full re-build. Finally back in the sky again! Special thanks to Charley Center and Mike Olidieri at Crosswinds STOL in Wasilla, Alaska. Test flight this morning with excellent results.
Here’s a quick run-down on her history:
• She rolled out of the factory in January, 1946. NC-43121; BC-12D; SN 6780; A-65 engine.
• Test flown by Al Barber.
• Sold to a dealer in Los Angeles
• Went through 14 owners, all in Oregon, from 1946 through 1982
• I purchased in Oregon in 1982 and flew her to Alaska. My first airplane.
• I put about 1,000 hours on her from 1982 through 2004. During that time a few “mods” were completed:
o Removed wheel pants and installed 8.50s
o Removed original taylorcraft “hockey puck” tailwheel and installed Maule tailwheel
o Removed headliner and the “sling” baggage compartment – installed extended baggage
o Removed Continental A-65 and did the Gilberti STC to install a C-85 engine (no electrics)
o Removed original landing gear and installed F-19 landing gear – with ski brace / strengthening
o Removed cable brakes and Shinn wheels, installed Cleveland wheels and hydraulic brakes
o Rebuilt and recovered both wings after major wind storm and wing damage, including broken spar.
• Decided in 2004 that it was time to take on a total rebuild / recover, including wings again.
• Installed skylight
• Installed zero time C-85 with eletrics, new C-150 style exhaust, and new Sensenich 76AK-2-38 prop
• New cowling to fit long mount and new engine installation
• New electrics (battery, radio, intercom, nav lights, alternator, GPS, ELT)
• New struts
• New shoes … 29-inch Airstreaks by Alaska Bushwheel and “Baby-Bushwheel” tailwheel
• New seats
• New paint
• Float fittings (but no floats … yet)
Most of the work has happened in the past year, I finally realized that it wasn’t going to get done if I kept whittling away at it in my “spare time”. I took the project to Charley Center who owns and operates Crosswinds STOL here in Wasilla, Alaska. He is renowned for his innovation and his work on tube-and-fabric aircraft. I am ecstatic with the work he and his crew did on my T-craft.
The Taylorcraft.org web site has been a huge source of information during the rebuild project. The “tribe” is a very helpful bunch of folks!
Thanks all, it really felt great this morning to be flying the old (now new) bird again. Here are a few pics.
Rod
She last flew in 2004 before I decided to do a complete tear-down and full re-build. Finally back in the sky again! Special thanks to Charley Center and Mike Olidieri at Crosswinds STOL in Wasilla, Alaska. Test flight this morning with excellent results.
Here’s a quick run-down on her history:
• She rolled out of the factory in January, 1946. NC-43121; BC-12D; SN 6780; A-65 engine.
• Test flown by Al Barber.
• Sold to a dealer in Los Angeles
• Went through 14 owners, all in Oregon, from 1946 through 1982
• I purchased in Oregon in 1982 and flew her to Alaska. My first airplane.
• I put about 1,000 hours on her from 1982 through 2004. During that time a few “mods” were completed:
o Removed wheel pants and installed 8.50s
o Removed original taylorcraft “hockey puck” tailwheel and installed Maule tailwheel
o Removed headliner and the “sling” baggage compartment – installed extended baggage
o Removed Continental A-65 and did the Gilberti STC to install a C-85 engine (no electrics)
o Removed original landing gear and installed F-19 landing gear – with ski brace / strengthening
o Removed cable brakes and Shinn wheels, installed Cleveland wheels and hydraulic brakes
o Rebuilt and recovered both wings after major wind storm and wing damage, including broken spar.
• Decided in 2004 that it was time to take on a total rebuild / recover, including wings again.
• Installed skylight
• Installed zero time C-85 with eletrics, new C-150 style exhaust, and new Sensenich 76AK-2-38 prop
• New cowling to fit long mount and new engine installation
• New electrics (battery, radio, intercom, nav lights, alternator, GPS, ELT)
• New struts
• New shoes … 29-inch Airstreaks by Alaska Bushwheel and “Baby-Bushwheel” tailwheel
• New seats
• New paint
• Float fittings (but no floats … yet)
Most of the work has happened in the past year, I finally realized that it wasn’t going to get done if I kept whittling away at it in my “spare time”. I took the project to Charley Center who owns and operates Crosswinds STOL here in Wasilla, Alaska. He is renowned for his innovation and his work on tube-and-fabric aircraft. I am ecstatic with the work he and his crew did on my T-craft.
The Taylorcraft.org web site has been a huge source of information during the rebuild project. The “tribe” is a very helpful bunch of folks!
Thanks all, it really felt great this morning to be flying the old (now new) bird again. Here are a few pics.
Rod
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