Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

[Forrest Barber]

This forum seemed to get very few hits. THEN along comes Mike with the great news on the Taylorcraft LSA So I now ask all to check out www.taylorcraft.com for the latest news. It sounds great!

[mikerice]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

I was present during the entire LSA ship numero uno build, and it was a very interesting experience. The factory has tremendous resources in tooling and NOS parts, and the original drawings and Engineering Orders. We set up and expanded the parts dept and went through almost every drawing.

During the process of building the S-LSA, we were training local workers (my reason for being there), and re-inventing the manufacturing process. We learned a lot and will no doubt learn more. Moving the factory, and then getting the first aircraft built and certified in six months was quite an accomplishment, something La Grange was just not able to do.

The focus will now be on getting SLSA Taylor Sports built, and that means parts first. There will be tremendous effort on building parts in the months to follow.

[SkyHigh]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

That is GREAT news !! I hope they can pull it togather.

SkyHigh

[dennispip]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

Mike...Thanks for your very nice style when communicating with the Taylorcraft users. I think it would be a good move for you to continue being the PR point person and communication arm for the Company as you seem to have a good feel for how that is accomplished. The success of the Comapany hinges on having a good product (we know it does), pricing it right, and standing behind its product, including all the older models that are in desparate need of parts. People want to fly and if Taylorcraft can make it possible, plenty of new planes will come out of your new factory. Many current owners will like what you are producing and are definitely candidates to upgrade to a brand new 0 time plane.

[pbmerritt]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

What is the construction material of new LSA wing. I know it is fabric covered but how about he spars and ribs?

[mikerice]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

The LSA wing is traditional Taylorcraft. The spars are wood and the ribs are stamped aluminum. The fuel tanks are the F22 20 gallon in each wing, but I think there might be changes ahead for the fuel tanks.

LSA ASTM standards say no fuel in the fuselage, so the header tank had to go. The old style BC12D 6 gallon tanks are easy to build, but 12 gallons of fuel with a 0-200 is not enough. A new tank design is under discussion, but it will take some time to finalize: the design and fabrication is full of compromises and obstacles in the wing.

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

The info you provide is invaluable Mike...much obliged!

Jim

[VictorBravo]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

A new tank design is under discussion, but it will take some time to finalize: the design and fabrication is full of compromises and obstacles in the wing.

Mike, for what it's worth, consider this: A molded plastic propylene tank with deep grooves molded in to the top, so it can be raised into position from below in to a main (larger) wing bay, and both drag wires nest into the grooves. This could be used in addition to the standard 6 gallon Taylorcraft style tanks or you could have two of them in each wing connected by a flex hose. The upside is that you don't have to disassemble the drag wires to get the tanks in or out. The downside is that you will have to still remove fabric to take the tank out. They could be "blow molded" polypropylene, Kevlar / resin composite, or aluminum stampings welded together. They could be held in with standard Taylorcraft steel straps and felt strips.

[crispy critter]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

Guys,
Take a look at some of the swick and cole coversions. The best and easiest set up for 24 gal without the use of a header tank is to connect two 6 gal wing tanks together in each wing.....simple,safe, and works like a charm.

[mikerice]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

Rotomolded tanks, using additional 6 gal tanks, redesigned 20 gal tanks, all are under consideration. It appears that the facilities exist in Brownsville for the molded tanks as the technology is the same as car fuel tanks. With a design engineer and a production engineer on now staff at Taylorcraft, chances are this will be looked at in great detail. The design staff and the production facilities were not available in La Grange, which is another reason why the move to Brownsville was smart.

[dennispip]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

How about a molded tank that somehow fits into the wing structure and the bottom of the tank is flush with the fabric covering. that would allow access to the tank without needing to open the wing fabric at all.

[CraigH]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

The LSA wing is traditional Taylorcraft. The spars are wood and the ribs are stamped aluminum. The fuel tanks are the F22 20 gallon in each wing, but I think there might be changes ahead for the fuel tanks.

Please tell me these are not the same tank/mount design as the F21B!!! If so, it may not be long before new owners are flooding the factory with complaints of leaking fuel tanks.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

I swore I would not jump into this fray. In 1991 back at Lock Haven, this was all discussed. At the time there was no money for redesign, they used that lousy set up clobbered together in Alliance for the F-21B.... AT THAT time there was a drawing (from 1947) for an 18 gal tank(s) to go into the B, F-19, F-21 wing; it had baffles and ridges. They could not obtain the material. In todays day and age , THEY ( the factory) should look toward using the new materials and having the tank slip in and out from the top under an all metal plate....check out the Tri-Pacer for one. The drag, anti-drag system can be replaced in that bay by several methods. Does any body recall the wooden fuel tanks used on the experimental Taylorcrafts; 7X & 9X.... I do, the "fuel cell" made of wood replaced the drag , anti-drag system. Hope THEY call sometime...

[dennispip]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

Atta Boy Forrest. Run Forrest Run!

[CraigH]

Re: Taylorcraft Factory News Updates

Forest,
The metal plates would be a GREAT idea. Would have saved me from tearing into two otherwise perfectly good wings on my bird, and shaved about $5000 off the repair cost.

With the gross weight limit of an LSA bird and an O-200 that sips fuel, I can't see the need for 40 gallons of fuel capacity to start with. Looks like two 12 gallon tanks would do the work just fine. If nothing else, mounting the tank with straps similar to Piper (the way we did on the repairs to my bird) would greatly reduce the chance of the tanks leaking. Those tabs are just a ticking time bomb IMHO.