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Factory Update 2005
Wishing everyone a joyous and peaceful holiday season, I bring much awaited news from Taylorcraft Aviation. Harry
Ingram has been extremely busy recently getting the first ships ready for certification, a monumental task which
only a few of us can totally appreciate. There is light at the end of the tunnel and this really is going to happen!
The process has been a learning experience for all and I know a few individuals have been frustrated with
their dealings with the factory so far. Hopefully I can shed some light on how things have been getting better and will
continue to do so.
Harry has now designated his initial area Sales Representatives
and as the Eastern US Sales Rep. I am issuing this information on his behalf. My enthusiasm for Taylorcrafts goes back to 1973
when a friend and I used to fly his Taylorcraft in our spare time while at Air Force Pilot Training together. My first
BC12-D, Tami T-Craft, came along in 1976 and is still with us, now under restoration.
Jim Zangger is now our Central US Sales Rep. His name will be familiar to many of you as the owner and restorer of the
beautiful multi-award-winning red and black BC12-D, N94953 which he so artfully brought back to life in 1997. Jim's dad
has also been teaching in Taylorcrafts as long as he can remember.
Tom Walters, our Western US Sales Rep. has had a Taylorcraft in the past, runs his own aviation business, and now has a
Taylor Sport and two F22's on order at the factory. His Taylor Sport Special-Light Sport Aircraft will actually be the first of
the new planes off the line to be certified and is expected to fly in January.
Gary Owens was the first customer for a new F22 and will be getting the 180 hp. taildragger version in which he will
be instructing. Plans are to put it on floats shortly after it's arrival in Salt Lake City. Gary will be our Rocky Mountain
Sales Rep.
In 2005 our focus as Sales Reps. is to sell airplanes with an eye to establishing relationships with customers who we feel
could become our future dealers starting in 2006. All dealers will be hand picked and will be chosen by their location, facilities, and their ability to provide sales,
instruction, and maintenance at their field. It's going to be a challanging and busy year for the four of us!
With the new sales force we realized the need for a bigger and better presence on the web and I have been working on several
new sites to that end. Please visit the sites, click on the buttons........ send us e-mail. Work the sites and tell us what
you think... what works and what doesn't. We are open to suggestions. More sections are in the planning stages as well.
Currently online are:
Upcoming sites are:
and more.........
You have probably heard it before, but prices are taking a big jump on January 1st, 2005. Remember, Our older T-crafts are
appreciating too! Tami's $3400 price in 1976 would be more like $18,000 today.......over 5 times in less than 30 years!
There are only two days left now, to speak personally to one of us before the end of the year to lock in current 2004 prices! If you are at all interested in a new Taylorcraft, call or e-mail your Sales Rep. right away. Harry does take Trade-ins!
Little mention has been made of the flow of new parts that have been shipped recently, Vic Gisclair being the exception.
Thanks Vic. Harry tells me that parts sales have been strong with over $30,000 worth going out in November. The parts catalog
is nearing completion and we are investigating the best way to make it available, including on the web.
The factory restoration shop is going great guns, with three new A&P's being hired recently to work on the TEN planes
now in for repairs/restoration.
The new in-house Accredited A&P School is expecting to matriculate its first students in January. The classroom facility is
first rate, even featuring high speed network connectivity for all students. This will provide a source of skilled staff for
the future.
The Taylorcraft Museum has been approved by the Airport Authority and will be built in conjunction with the Delivery Center
on the flightline.
An uphulstery shop has been bought out and relocated to the factory. The shop specialized in leather interiors for business
jets and should have some beautiful interiors for our new aircraft, as well as some interior kits for your own restorations
in the near future.
Although the factory is taking a much needed break from Christmas to New Year's day, they will come back in January with
an additional 18 employees for a total of 36 on staff. That should get some planes out the door!
Sun and Fun and Oshkosh booths have been booked and we expect lots of interest just as we had at Oshkosh this summer.
To add to the Oshkosh booth, the Taylors want to join us, possibly bringing the Taylor Cub.
Continental will supply the factory with new CERTIFIED O-200A engines for the Taylor Sport. Modernization upgrades are
coming shortly for the engine as well which should make it a very desireable engine choice.
Magazine coverage is coming. Expect to see a major layout and spread in a high volume publication by April.
Our new Factory Demonstrator aircraft are in the works and we will be taking them to the shows starting this spring.
Over 20 aircraft have been ordered and parts are now at the factory to get the production flow going.
The hoops have been jumped through. The word is GO!
Yes, I realize we have all heard this before and still see delays and no flying airplane yet. They are coming! I won't
give a definite date but we do expect to get the first ones flying in January. For all of those who have had doubts about
finances, suffice it to say that the factory has just been recapitalized and money will not be holding them back.The FAA may
slow them up, but not money.
Harry is serious about making this all a succcess. He has big plans for Taylorcraft which will be coming to light shortly
after getting the production rolling. He feels it can fill a niche in the market that others can't. We Sales Reps., as well
as all of the current owners, certainly hope for him and the factory to be successful as well.
All of this said, the bottom line is that we have to get planes out the door. We are painfully aware that the
credibility of Harry, the factory, and now us as Sales Reps. hangs in the balance.
Trust me, I want to fly that first plane next month, and if it's available, I will get checked out in it and issue a
full report! It may actually be the first aircraft in the country to be issued a Special-Light Sport Aircraft Airworthiness
Certificate.
Now as a final issue, I have made up a gift for all of you who have come this far and visit our new web sites. Check out your area Sales Rep's page and click on the gift box.
I hope you enjoy it and take a moment to think about the dedication of those past and present who have kept and continue to
keep our little birds going for the past seventy years. Enjoy, and may we all have a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Regards,
Jon Timlin
Eastern US Taylorcraft Aviation Factory Sales Rep.
Ingram has been extremely busy recently getting the first ships ready for certification, a monumental task which
only a few of us can totally appreciate. There is light at the end of the tunnel and this really is going to happen!
The process has been a learning experience for all and I know a few individuals have been frustrated with
their dealings with the factory so far. Hopefully I can shed some light on how things have been getting better and will
continue to do so.
Harry has now designated his initial area Sales Representatives
and as the Eastern US Sales Rep. I am issuing this information on his behalf. My enthusiasm for Taylorcrafts goes back to 1973
when a friend and I used to fly his Taylorcraft in our spare time while at Air Force Pilot Training together. My first
BC12-D, Tami T-Craft, came along in 1976 and is still with us, now under restoration.
Jim Zangger is now our Central US Sales Rep. His name will be familiar to many of you as the owner and restorer of the
beautiful multi-award-winning red and black BC12-D, N94953 which he so artfully brought back to life in 1997. Jim's dad
has also been teaching in Taylorcrafts as long as he can remember.
Tom Walters, our Western US Sales Rep. has had a Taylorcraft in the past, runs his own aviation business, and now has a
Taylor Sport and two F22's on order at the factory. His Taylor Sport Special-Light Sport Aircraft will actually be the first of
the new planes off the line to be certified and is expected to fly in January.
Gary Owens was the first customer for a new F22 and will be getting the 180 hp. taildragger version in which he will
be instructing. Plans are to put it on floats shortly after it's arrival in Salt Lake City. Gary will be our Rocky Mountain
Sales Rep.
In 2005 our focus as Sales Reps. is to sell airplanes with an eye to establishing relationships with customers who we feel
could become our future dealers starting in 2006. All dealers will be hand picked and will be chosen by their location, facilities, and their ability to provide sales,
instruction, and maintenance at their field. It's going to be a challanging and busy year for the four of us!
With the new sales force we realized the need for a bigger and better presence on the web and I have been working on several
new sites to that end. Please visit the sites, click on the buttons........ send us e-mail. Work the sites and tell us what
you think... what works and what doesn't. We are open to suggestions. More sections are in the planning stages as well.
Currently online are:
Upcoming sites are:
and more.........
You have probably heard it before, but prices are taking a big jump on January 1st, 2005. Remember, Our older T-crafts are
appreciating too! Tami's $3400 price in 1976 would be more like $18,000 today.......over 5 times in less than 30 years!
There are only two days left now, to speak personally to one of us before the end of the year to lock in current 2004 prices! If you are at all interested in a new Taylorcraft, call or e-mail your Sales Rep. right away. Harry does take Trade-ins!
Little mention has been made of the flow of new parts that have been shipped recently, Vic Gisclair being the exception.
Thanks Vic. Harry tells me that parts sales have been strong with over $30,000 worth going out in November. The parts catalog
is nearing completion and we are investigating the best way to make it available, including on the web.
The factory restoration shop is going great guns, with three new A&P's being hired recently to work on the TEN planes
now in for repairs/restoration.
The new in-house Accredited A&P School is expecting to matriculate its first students in January. The classroom facility is
first rate, even featuring high speed network connectivity for all students. This will provide a source of skilled staff for
the future.
The Taylorcraft Museum has been approved by the Airport Authority and will be built in conjunction with the Delivery Center
on the flightline.
An uphulstery shop has been bought out and relocated to the factory. The shop specialized in leather interiors for business
jets and should have some beautiful interiors for our new aircraft, as well as some interior kits for your own restorations
in the near future.
Although the factory is taking a much needed break from Christmas to New Year's day, they will come back in January with
an additional 18 employees for a total of 36 on staff. That should get some planes out the door!
Sun and Fun and Oshkosh booths have been booked and we expect lots of interest just as we had at Oshkosh this summer.
To add to the Oshkosh booth, the Taylors want to join us, possibly bringing the Taylor Cub.
Continental will supply the factory with new CERTIFIED O-200A engines for the Taylor Sport. Modernization upgrades are
coming shortly for the engine as well which should make it a very desireable engine choice.
Magazine coverage is coming. Expect to see a major layout and spread in a high volume publication by April.
Our new Factory Demonstrator aircraft are in the works and we will be taking them to the shows starting this spring.
Over 20 aircraft have been ordered and parts are now at the factory to get the production flow going.
The hoops have been jumped through. The word is GO!
Yes, I realize we have all heard this before and still see delays and no flying airplane yet. They are coming! I won't
give a definite date but we do expect to get the first ones flying in January. For all of those who have had doubts about
finances, suffice it to say that the factory has just been recapitalized and money will not be holding them back.The FAA may
slow them up, but not money.
Harry is serious about making this all a succcess. He has big plans for Taylorcraft which will be coming to light shortly
after getting the production rolling. He feels it can fill a niche in the market that others can't. We Sales Reps., as well
as all of the current owners, certainly hope for him and the factory to be successful as well.
All of this said, the bottom line is that we have to get planes out the door. We are painfully aware that the
credibility of Harry, the factory, and now us as Sales Reps. hangs in the balance.
Trust me, I want to fly that first plane next month, and if it's available, I will get checked out in it and issue a
full report! It may actually be the first aircraft in the country to be issued a Special-Light Sport Aircraft Airworthiness
Certificate.
Now as a final issue, I have made up a gift for all of you who have come this far and visit our new web sites. Check out your area Sales Rep's page and click on the gift box.
I hope you enjoy it and take a moment to think about the dedication of those past and present who have kept and continue to
keep our little birds going for the past seventy years. Enjoy, and may we all have a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Regards,
Jon Timlin
Eastern US Taylorcraft Aviation Factory Sales Rep.
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