From The Factory

[Taylorcraft Avi]

Let me start by addressing these very serious allegations and I hope we can close on a positive note.

First of all, Taylorcraft Aviation has full FAA approvals to manufacture and to sell new aircraft. We also have FAA approval to manufacture and sell parts. Our 21 gallon wing tank has had many design changes and when I think we have the best product available, I will submit the paperwork to the FAA.

Craig, I think you forgot to mention the fuel tank I sent you worked perfect and I never charged you a dime. Glad I could help.

Kevin, Shame on you. I can prove we refunded your money for the leading edges you ordered (Ck #1729). Sorry, your services to sell, ferry, and broker Taylorcrafts will not be needed.

Ed, the wing tip bow story.We sent you new/old stock, lets move on.

Pipsqeak, sorry it took four months for your new landing gear: first article inspections, upgraded materials, and FAA approvals.

Hank, same story on your wing repair, Inspections and Approvals.

"Highflyer", you have crossed the line. I know who you are and can prove it. You need to run, not walk to your legal department. You and your employer will be hearing from me soon.

Lee, (yellow duck). Thank you for taking the time to visit our factory and seeing for yourself. Your continued support says volumes.

Bob, Thank you for reminding all, the intent of this venue.

Forrest, everyone thinks you and I are on different teams. This is not the case. We don't always agree on everything but our common goal is to keep Taylorcrafts flying. Jump off the fence and state your position. I can take it.

Nobody thinks we can sell new Taylorcrafts for $59,995.00, so to make all happy, we will add $10,000.00 to all model effective 1/1/05.

Thank you for your support,

Harry W. Ingram

[jrzangger]

Thank you

Thank you Harry, for the response to the very negative accusations that have been on this post recently.

It's difficult to respond to someone that is hiding behind a cloak of secrecy, "highflyer", and want us to take "his word" for anything.

I appreciate your positive response and hope that the other members will support your worthwhile efforts in revitalizing the Taylorcraft.

It's much too good of an airplane to suffer these insults!

Thanks again.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Taylorcraft owner

All right guys, let's stop the fighting, and get on with the job of supporting the plane that we all love. I'M willing to take some of my V.A. disability check, (the 100% variety, so I obviously can't throw the money away), and order a set of wing to fuselage fairings for my 1940 BC65. Harry, if you read this, I'll call you tomorow, and find out how much I need to send you. I look at it this way, untill you lie to me, I can't prove in my heart of hearts that a good portion of what I'm hearing is not a mixture of sour grapes, conjecture, and rumor. And I learned NEVER to place my trust in rumors when I was in the Army. Sabrina

[David Price]

Harry,
I believe that what you are doing is great.
Why did not someone else step up to the plate and do what no one else wanted to do. At least you are trying to revive the company.

GODSPEED!

"LOVE AIR"

[alwaysoar]

new old stock

Harry, Sorry I mentioned the aileron tip ribs, but they should not have been sent out, new old stock or new. However, I got a prompt refund and an apology, and I am planning to order some new struts in the near future. I also do not intend to get into any bashing, but I have been generally disgusted with the parts suppliers and have returned parts to four (4) different engine parts suppliers in the last month because what they sent me as new or new surplus was either corroded/pitted or otherwise clearly used. Sorry that Taylorcraft got caught up in my angst. I think Highflyer has been a bad influence on some of us.


Ed @BTV VT
TF 527

[alwaysoar]

parts suppliers

p.s. One of the parts suppliers I had to return parts to was NOT Captjon @T-Restore. He is excellent to work with and represents his parts accurately and prices them fairly. Thanks Jon, and I enjoyed seeing your shop and your project.

Ed @BTV VT
TF 527

[crispy critter]

Harry,
If you have a check number with my name on it then you have either FORGOT TO MAIL IT or SENT IT TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!!I have been waiting for more than 6 months for those leading edges so I can cover my wings.Had I known you had sent me a refund check I would have ordered them from someone else or made them myself.I have seen no check or heard anything from you until now.
As for working for you.....that was a job I was offering to you as a donation to help you.Not once did I mention,ask for,or question money or salery and I had no intention of it....I don't need the money nor do I need the job and since our last few conversations my offer has been no good to you for any amount of money.
I am once again sorry for my outburst on the forums.It will not happen again.If fact I will call Harry and settle this with him.I may even go see him in person with a good friend or two from the FAA that ARE in a position to make sure he is on the up and up.
If anyone wants to know the out come they can email me or PM me but lets keep it off the forums,it's not fair to everyone else to read all this negetivity.
Harry,I wish you the best of luck and I truly hope you can make it,but retaliating against your customers when you yourself know that you are wrong will only make it worse.All we ask for is honesty.

[CraigH]

Re: From The Factory

Originally posted by Taylorcraft Avi
Craig, I think you forgot to mention the fuel tank I sent you worked perfect and I never charged you a dime. Glad I could help.

True statement Harry. I wouldn't say that it worked perfectly, but we made it work. I never claimed to have paid you a dime either. However, I was quite disgusted with being shipped a used tank removed from another aircraft when I had been promised that a brand new one had been built a mere 24 hours before.

I was even more disgusted when I was informed by the FAA that you had not even submitted any design work on the 21 gallon tanks AFTER you had been telling both Steve Pierce and myself that everything was complete and that you were awaiting final FAA approval. This stretched on for a period of many weeks.

The straw that broke the camel's back was when one of your employees slipped up and told Steve that you had not done ANY work on the 21 gallon tanks, and that they were a low priority back-burner item. This was all at the same time you were telling us the tanks were complete with the exception of FAA signoff!

Harry, we didn't expect you to make us tanks. This option was offered up by you. We have the facilities here to have our own tanks fabricated. If you hadn't out and out lied to us the airplane would have been up and flying much sooner, so don't play it up like you did us any favors. We caught you with your pants down and you did the best thing you knew how in an attempt to save face. If you had been upfront and honest from the beginning it would have saved all parties involved a whole lot of heartache.

To the other members of this site I apologize for the negativity, but I'm sick and tired of being painted the bad guy in a situation most of you know little if anything about. My goal is not to destroy Taylorcraft, but to force the factory into dealing with it's customers in a manner that will insure future success. In spite of the problems with my airplane I loved it! It was a very capable airplane and fun to fly. Had my relationship with the factory gotten off on a different foot I would have been a very likely candidate for a brand new 180hp F22.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Airplane poor??

Craig, I sure hope that you're flying SOMETHING. Sabrina

[Steve Pierce]

The truth finally comes from the factory about the 21 gallon tanks. Of course I new last winter and have been in touch with the FAA ever since. Was even lied to at OSH. Several other T'Craft owners have called me and told me they were also told the design would be approved any day now. You can paint Craig and I to be bad people for voicing our experience but it is the truth and I have documented all my conversations with the factory and the FAA to prove it. When I found the condition of Craig's tank I asked Harry if I could get a new tank, when I could get it and explained that I did not need FAA approval as I would install as an owner produced part with my own field approved modification to the tank installation. He assured me when I could get and how much the new tanks would cost me. Needless to say it never happened and I was given excuse after excuse for several months. I finally called the FAA to find out the truth. Craigs T'Craft is repaired and has well over 100 hrs. on it since my FAA approved modification was done. I liked the A/C over all but am glad it is now gone. I know if American Champion is out of something they will tell me and also give me a lead time as does Univair. I maintain and rebuild many classic aircraft and I have come to appreciate the venders that I deal with such as Univair, Team Luscombe, Cub Crafters, F. Atlee Dodge, Steve's Aircraft, Rainbow, Safe Air Repair, Dan's Aircraft and many others. I also appreciate all the fine classic aircraft enthusiasts and experts I have met and learned from over the years. Without them I would not be where I am today. Maybe others can learn from these individuals and businesses and help us all reach our ultimate goal of keeping all these old classic airplanes flying in a safe and well preserved condition.

[Lee Eyler]

Harry, a suggestion, could you take a couple of minutes each day to post a short message about the most positive thing that has happened for Taylorcraft during that day?
Thanks

[taylorcraftbc65]

Questions for Highflyer

Highflyer,
In the light of all the statements that you have made about Harry, and the Taylorcraft factory, I think we all need to "concider the source" of these statements. I don't care your reasons for wanting to remain annomous, although they place extreme doubt upon your credibility. All I, and the others on this board, would like to know is this; none of which will reveal your identity.
Are you an A&P, IA, DAR, DER? Do you have an Aeronautical Engineering degree? Have you ever owned an aviation parts related company where you had to deal with FAA regs. constantly?
If your truthful answer to these questions is no, than you have no knowlege, or experience base from which to make the statements that you have made.

[barnstmr]

highflyer.. you seem intent to keep stirring this issue, even though all those who had an interest in it have said their peace and Harry has responded. Everyone else seems satisfied with his reply. So drop it. Besides... your FAA contact is totally incorrect. Wrong engineer. Wrong office.

[robbie]

highflyer

OK you have made your statement about the factory, let it go.
I believe we need to support the factory. I'm going to need some parts to keep the old girl flying and need some where to get them. So lets not keep beating a dead horse.
Lets get back to problems and fixes and stop beating up on Harry

[Forrest Barber]

Re: From The Factory

Somehow I have missed this thread for a while. Harry & I figured out HiFlyer real quick. I am not "at odds" never have been , never will be...
BUT I am not on any fence..... I have supported ever new factory owner since Mrs. Feris first sold the place in Alliance in 1985 ..... that was almost 20 years ago. I have offered my services in any way possible. Right now I am working as a consultant for two other projects in the industry and have not made it to the factory for my usual "free" visit, NOR have I been really invited. I thought I sort of "horned" my way into the gathering of factory support at Oshkoch. As I have stated many times " no one is famous for anything they are going to do in this world". WE are setting up a Taylorcraft Forumn at Sun-N-Fun , WE intend to bring Leisa-Marie ( the 180 HP, Standard Category Taylorcraft BC12D to the Factory gathering in May.) WE will have the Fly-In at Alliance, July 8th, 9th & 10th. 2005. WE will set up a Taylorcraft row at Air Venture in 2005. WE will try to take the Proto-type up again with the E-2, the Taylorbird and others....WE just need information on a regular basis as to status of progress at the Factory. WE have a proper forumn for this on the front page use it... thanks Forrest