N19461

[N19461]

I just recently bought my Taylorcraft last month. It has 630 TTSN and 300 on the engine overhaul. The plane was completley rebuilt in 1994. I plan to install the original wheel pants back on her once I have them repainted I feel very lucky to have bought this little gem and feel just as lucky to have found such a great forum.

[ajfriz]

Re: N19461

Nice looking bird!

[VanDy]

Re: N19461

That is a very nice looking airplane!!

If I may make a suggestion on the wheel pants... Try and find fenders instead!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: N19461

The pants are GREAT.....for show. If you fly off of grass you will spend a lot of time trying to get the crud out of them the wheels throw up there. It is also hard to check tire pressure on the original pants (some guys have modified them to make it easier). I have two sets for my planes but don't put them on except for show.
Hank

[N19461]

Re: N19461

Thanks guys for your suggesttions on the pants,I will most likely just put them on only for display days at local shows.
Jack

[magman]

Re: N19461

Suggest you have your W & B Report made up 2 ways:

Pants-ON & Pants-OFF

Eliminates constantly refiguring.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: N19461

Always weigh your plane with your pants on. No telling who may walk past the hangar door. I would also suggest you keep your pants on when talking to the FAA. They seem to react to half dressed people on the ramp with very little sense of humor. ;-)

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: N19461

You KNEW someone was going to say it!
Hank

[N19461]

Re: N19461

That's great Hank. I will make sure the pants are up and the belt is tight.
Thanks Magman, that is what I have right now in,one on and one with off.

[jim cooper]

Re: N19461

You might try what I did. Put the wheel pants on and fly for 6-8 months. I rarely had a problem. BUT, I am always flying on decent grass runways that drain well or on hard surface. New Mown grass sometimes gathers at the rear of the pant but is easily removed by hand. Heavier mud ( only once by Not paying attention to a low spot in the runway just after a rain) was removed by a hose put up under the pants. OR.... You can leave them off and wash down the underside of the wings quite often getting water down your neck and finally washing most of the airplane. (I would rather fly than work on the the airplane.) The TCRAFT is so light, it's easy to roll it until the valve stem appears to do whatever is necessary. I never flew river banks or Alaska type strips so that's another story. Personally, I think the T Craft looks much better with wheel pants. Speed was never a priority with me as no matter what engine you have your going to be slow so sit back and enjoy it! You can see the pants on my last TCRAFT on the registry N43338. Best JC.

[N19461]

Re: N19461

Thanks JC,

I really don't think there are any grass strips here where I live in the Los Angeles area, so I don't think the wheel pants will be a problem to put on. If I decide to one day take a trip to the aviation frendly part of the country where those great grass strips still exist then I will remove them. BTW,very nice TCRAFT N43338 is.

Jack

[clear_prop1961]

Re: N19461

Jack- I hope you are able to bring your very nice Taylorcraft to the the West Coast Taylorcraft Fly-in in two weeks. See info for fly-in on another section of the forum or on barnstormers.com. There will be a few guys coming up from the LA area which you may want to join up with. Hope you can make it.
Jerry

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: N19461

There is really no reason you can't fly from grass strips with the pants, but you need to put the pants on your pre-flight inspection to be sure there isn't something jammed up in the back of the pant. On my field there is a grass runway right next to the pavement so I kind of like landing there whenever I can. That means getting down on the ground every flight and looking up behind the tire into the pant. I'm getting kind of old and stiff for that, but seeing how good they look, maybe I need more exercise!
Hank

Or a lighted mirror on a stick.

[N19461]

Re: N19461

Jerry-

Thanks for the invite. It looks like a lot of fun,but as of right now i'm scheduled to fly that weekend. If something changes before then I would love to attend the event.

Jack