Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

[RobertP]

Hi All,

I own a 1991 Taylorcraft F22A ( Tri Gear ) and I am interested in trying to fit a rear seat to my Aircraft. There is ample Luggage allowance / Useful load / Space and somewhere I recall having seen that an Approval was granted for such an idea.

I believe it was for an F22 series aircraft but I cannot remember where I saw it and the nature of the Approval? I am not familiar with the FAA Approvals system so can anyone assist if they have any knowledge of a seat being fitted to a F22 series model and if so which one?

I have two spare seats and harnesses etc identical to the one's in my Aircraft so perhaps it would be achievable on the other hand perhaps it's yet another mad Brit idea!

[mikerice]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

Hi Robert-
I have not heard of a F22 with a back seat. It may be possible and since it was a market response to the Cessna 150, and the 150 had a kiddie seat as an option, it might have been done. There were so few F22's made that I would doubt that much effort was given to installing a third seat.

On another topic, what is the serial number of your plane? I was doing some research the other day and there are very few registered on FAA.gov. Looks like 17 is the high serial number for a F22 in the U.S.

[RobertP]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

Mike,

Thanks for your response. The serial number for my Aircraft is 2207 and the US registration was N22UK. I also have a fair amount of Spares from the Tail dragger sister of my aircraft N221UK which flew from the States with her and was involved in a landing accident a couple of years ago and I purchased the salvage for spares.

I guess you may be correct in the lack of interest in the F22 series because of the low number produced but I am sure I read about it somewhere! Perhaps it was in the advertising blurb when the F22 series was released but I don't have that either.

Is there anyway of searching on the FAA website or wherever for this type of information? Is it called an STC if an application is made for fitting such things?

[mikerice]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

Robert,
If the seat was a factory option, then we would need others to discuss/explain how it was done. The FAA requires a Form 337 to be filed every time a modification or major repair is done to a plane in the U.S. Since there are only about 10 registered F22s in the U.S. it might pay to order the CD from FAA.gov on each of them.

The CD is consists of the registration record (who owned the plane) from the factory to todays owner. It also has a copy of every mod/repair (Form 337) submitted to the FAA on that plane. In the U.S. you can use previously approved 337's as the basis for a new mod similar to what was approved, so a seat added as a modification would be in the record, and the written description and a drawing will be on the CD.

I don't know if the UK would accept such "approved data" as a basis for the required paperwork, but it would be a start. With the ~10 CD's you would have all the data there is outside of the factory (and I saw what they had- it would not fill a file drawer). CD's cost 10USD per plane - not sure on shipping to UK, but it is included in the 10USD cost to US destinations. If you want to go this route, PM me and I'll split the cost with you, just to have a copy.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

For what it is worth, if you order the CDs while at EAA's "Airventure", the Cd and mailing is free. It might take 10 people to ask though. I got mine that way, just walk in and ask for it. I would be glad to ask for one and then forward it on to you Mike.
L

[RobertP]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

Mike,

After a good deal of rumaging! I have found the source of my information! In the October 1991 UK Edition of Pilot Magazine they did an article on my Aircraft and her F22 sister which had just been flown over from the States. The Article is some 4 pages and details flight Tests with the Aircraft and gives both very positive "write ups " as potential LSA and Training Aircraft. They were priced at £54,500 UKP for the European spec so not cheap!!

The article describes one of the available factory options to be and I quote " A FAA only Approved Folding seat is approved for the cargo area, interestingly Taylorcraft insist that nothing within the 200lb weight limit placed within this voluminous baggage space ( four times the size of the Super cub's ) will compromise the centre of gravity envelope, a function of the broad five foot cord and C of G tolerant NACA 23012 wing section. " I am not sure what the last bit means but obviously being a Factory option it may never have been taken up by any purchasers?

I am not sure where this takes me if anywhere?

[lfries]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

If it was a factory option wouldn't it be on the Type Certificate.

[mikerice]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

I thought that the aux seat would be mentioned on the Type Certificate too, but I just read through TC 1A9 and the Aux seat is not mentioned. I think it was a marketing ploy as even the Cessna 150 probably only had 5% shipped with kiddie seats. They are quite rare. Considering how few F22's were built, I doubt they ever did a aux seat on one.

I have seen a folding rear seat from Atlee Dodge (I think) for Piper Cubs or Super Cubs and it might be adaptable to an F22. Paper work to make it legal would be another matter entirely.

[RobertP]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

Thanks Mike and all,

Sounds like a bit of poetic licence from the UK Distributors at the time. My Aircraft is now on what is called the UK Permit System ( Like all UK based Taylorcrafts ) so I will try exploring the possibility of the fitting with The LAA ( Light Aircraft Association ) who are involved in the Administration of the scheme. Once again thanks everyone for the interest shown.

[Tailwind]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

If the rear seat is in fact a factory option, then the installation of this seat is not a change in type design, and therefore is not a major alteration and only requires a log entry, as long as factory parts are used. That would be the tricky part.

[RobertP]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

Tailwind,

Thanks,

I suspect one was never fitted in any of the F22 series so I doubt if there are any spare parts around but it would be worth checking out, like many other things I guess if Taylorcraft LLC or whatever ever rises from the ashes!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

Next time those ashes rise, we need to be ready to BUY THEM! We should own Taylorcraft so we can manage it right. We have the talent and we ARE the customer base.
Hank

If anyone hears any rumbles, we need to let each other know so we can buy the company.

[Jim Herpst]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

Next time those ashes rise, we need to be ready to BUY THEM! We should own Taylorcraft so we can manage it right. We have the talent and we ARE the customer base.
Hank

If anyone hears any rumbles, we need to let each other know so we can buy the company.

Hank Agreed. The parts are the main thing. It is a LITTLE better now with WAG Aero doing a wee bit more. Course its nice to think (and thats about it...think) that there would be some demand for new models like the CUB has had . Then again one needs to think.......... Not sure how Legend Aircraft is doing even

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

We actually tried to buy the company but were beaten to the punch by the Mexican group (who don't seem to be doing anything with it now). The business plan was NOT to build planes, but to restore planes on factory tooling and manufacture any parts not being made by others already. If someone wanted a new plane, we could build it, but you might end up owning the ONLY 2013 Taylorcraft in the world since each would be built "as ordered". There is just NO MONEY in building new airplanes right now. It is a great way to loose your shirt.
There IS enough market to not go broke (but never get rich) fixing the old planes and making parts.
Hank

[robbie]

Re: Fitting Third Seat Taylorcraft F22A

I didn't know it was sold again. Last I knew the FL group D&G or something like that own the TC.
When did it get sold?