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A History of Taylorcraft NC36061
Associated people, places, dates and events chronologically arranged based on existing logbooks, FAA records of 337s, bills of sale and other documents, and internet research
July 1, 1941 Built as a BC12-65 “Deluxe” S/N 3028, Taylorcraft Aviation Corporation, Alliance, OH.
July 8, 1941 Registered with the CAA as NC36061, empty weight recorded as 744 pounds.
July 15, 1941 Sold to the Phoenix Aeronautical Club, c/o Coca-Cola Corporation, Phoenix, AZ. A.L. Gagmier, President; Jesse H. Anderson, Treasurer; J. H. Cason, Secretary. Flown to Phoenix, AZ and maintained at Sky Harbor Airport.
July 19, 1941 Taylorcraft steerable tail wheel installed by Southwest Airways, Sky Harbor Airport.
Sept 7, 1941 Accident reported; Sensenich 72C44 propeller replaced, left gear leg aft tube spliced by Carl Knier, Sky Harbor Airport. Returned to service September 18, 1941.
Nov 28, 1941 Accident reported; one right wing nose rib replaced by Carl Knier, Sky Harbor Airport. Returned to service December 8, 1941.
-Carl "Pappy" Knier was a key figure in Phoenix aviation history. He started a CPT program at Sky Harbor Airport in 1939, owned Sky Harbor Air Service, an FBO at Sky Harbor Airport, was manager of Sky Harbor Airport, and served as a CAP wing commander.
May 21, 1942 Accident reported; left wing rear spar spliced in outer bay, left wing tip bow replaced by Ernie Longbrake, Phoenix, AZ. Returned to service June 3, 1942.
Aug 25, 1942 Accident reported; fuselage cross member between forward wing attach fittings spliced, right wing attach fittings reinforced, right front doorpost down tube spliced, six ribs replaced and two ribs repaired in right wing, right wing recovered, three wing struts and both jury struts replaced by Ernie Longbrake, Phoenix, AZ. Returned to service November 25, 1942.
-Emmett Lee "Ernie" Longbrake appears to be a rather colorful figure in the aviation history of the southwestern United States. I found lore of his exploits flying for Pancho Villa before founding the White Phantoms, an aerial display team that did movie work, and barnstorming around the west and southwest. He apparently eventually settled in Phoenix.
July 31, 1943 Accident reported at Young, AZ; right front wing attach fitting on fuselage replaced, right wing rebuilt with 10 new ribs, compression tube and drag wire replaced, new front and rear spars, new leading edge. Left wing rear spar replaced, both left wing struts replaced, both jury struts replaced, right gear leg replaced, engine mount, engine, and propeller replaced, rudder replaced; entire airplane recovered. Repairs by Fred O. Grissom, Gilpin Airport, Tucson, AZ and Thomas O. Larkins, Globe Vocational School, Globe, AZ. Returned to service September 20, 1944.
Oct 14, 1943 Sold to Roy B. Wilson, Young, AZ.
Nov 10, 1944 Application for recertification after major repair, TT 1468:40. “Special Use” note indicates operation by the Civil Air Patrol.
Nov 20, 1944 Sold to Conner Johnson, Phoenix, AZ.
Sept 7, 1945 Sold to John H. Nagel, dba Nagel Flying Service, Compton, CA municipal airport.
Oct 26, 1945 Sold to H. L. Crumrine, Imperial, CA. Maintained at Brawley, CA municipal airport.
July 13, 1946 Oldest log book begins, 1226:55 brought forward from March 31, 1943.
Sept 5, 1946 Sold to Nick Natte, Los Angeles, CA.
Sept 8, 1947 Wings, ailerons, stabilizers and elevators recovered by Louis A. Stolp, Stolp-Adams Company, Compton, CA municipal airport.
-Lou Stolp was a B-17 tail gunner and aircraft mechanic during WWII. He later designed the Stolp-Adams Starduster experimental biplane with partner George Adams, as well as the Starlet parasol, Acroduster and others, and became a key figure in the early experimental and homebuilding movement.
Nov 18, 1947 Sold to Henry Leroy Glass, Redondo Beach, CA.
Jan 28, 1949 Sold to Leonard Bethel, Bishop, CA, later relocated to Lancaster, CA.
Oct 10, 1949 Fuselage and rudder recovered by Harland C. Ross, Bishop, CA.
June 1, 1950 Sold to Harry Myer, Mojave, CA.
July 18, 1951 Sold to Sherman C. Loudermilk, Burbank, CA.
-Sherman Loudermilk was a Marine Corps combat artist in the Pacific during WWII, and became an early KTLA-TV personality in the Los Angeles area, portraying "Cowboy Slim" on his live kids' western show. Later he returned to artwork in Hollywood, working on many TV shows and movies.
Oct 4, 1952 Sold to Donald Charles Foster, Los Angeles, CA.
Feb 13, 1953 Sold to Charles G. Horn, Fillmore, CA.
June 3, 1953 Sold to Phillip D. Keister, Ojai, CA. Relocated to Missouri at some point.
Feb 24, 1955 Airplane recovered by John W. Hackbarth.
Sept 27, 1957 Right gear leg aft tube and streamline tie rod tube spliced; right wing rear spar spliced in outer bay and right rear wing strut repaired; both wings recovered by James W. Flanagan, Lebanon, MO. Empty weight reported as 634 pounds (doubtful).
Oct 10, 1957 Generator, battery, and radio equipment installed by James Wallace Flanagan, Lebanon, MO for fire patrol use by Missouri State Forestry. Empty weight reported as 717 pounds (very doubtful).
Jan 10, 1958 All electrical and radio equipment removed by James W. Flanagan, Lebanon, MO. Empty weight reported as 634 pounds (110lbs below original factory weight, very doubtful).
Jan 30, 1958 Sold to the Condor Club, USAF ROTC, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, H. Nyall Bemis, president.
Feb 16, 1960 Sold to Paul N. Andreas, Jr, Mount Vernon, OH. Richard Stouffer, Condor Club president.
Nov 6, 1961 Sold to Robert L. Green and James E. Muston, Utica, OH.
Dec 5, 1963 Sold to John W. Price and Henry W. Coughlin, Columbus, OH.
May 17, 1964 Recovered with Irish linen by John W. Price, Columbus, OH.
July 27, 1964 Sold to David L. Deever, Westerville, OH. Relocated to LeMars, IA at some point and became a derelict hangar queen there.
Dec 9, 1967 Sold to Henry W. Luebke, et al, c/o the Sioux Falls Police Department flying club, Sioux Falls, SD.
Jan 10, 1973 Sole ownership transferred to Henry W. Luebke, Sioux Falls, SD.
August, 1990 Dismantled and placed in storage due to wing tip damage and failing fabric.
ca. 2000 After several years in storage, the fuselage, tail feathers, landing gear, engine mount and H-yoke were sandblasted. Gerry Phillips, Larchwood, IA made repairs as needed, including lower rudder tube, tail post and aft lower longeron replacement due to surface pitting, although the inside of the old tubing looked new. Gerry had a PMA to build new/repair PA-12 fuselages, and his welds were perfect. All powder coated and put back in storage.
2011-Present Restoration of wings and ailerons undertaken by Doc Walker, Sioux Falls, SD. All ribs cleaned, repaired or replaced and primed; all new spars built from scratch; Terry Bowden's STC for gross weight increase to 1280lbs applied to wing fittings. New aluminum wing tanks, new .020 leading edges and new trailing edges fitted. New stainless steel drag/anti-drag wires installed. New aileron spars and leading and trailing edges made up. Ailerons and wings ready for cover in the fall of 2015.
----
It is truly amazing that this airplane has survived. With over 1400 hours in just over three years, and its extensive damage history, it was obviously used very hard, and its a wonder it was not just parted out or left abandoned somewhere.
My dad gave me my first airplane ride in 36061 in August, 1969 when I was six weeks old. It was kept in a hangar dad built from an old salvaged hangar and flown from a 1320' grass runway on the 40 acres we lived on. I grew up flying with dad, then learning to fly when I could reach the rudder pedals. He wasn't an instructor, but did a good job anyway, as I soloed on my 16th birthday with 2.7 hours of dual in my logbook. I was signed off by Russell Zangger, Larchwood, IA, Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame member and legendary Taylorcraft instructor. At one time, Russell had three Taylorcrafts, all painted the same red, black and white scheme. His son Jim still has one of them.
The current restoration effort probably wouldn't have begun if not for the persistence of Doc Walker in getting it out of storage and into his shop. Doc has been a master craftsman/builder/restorer for years, and even worked at Rare Aircraft in Minnesota building Wacos and such for a while. He is very meticulous and his attention to detail will make this airplane much better than it was when new. Apart from adding Terry Bowden's STCs for a C-85/O-200 and maybe Luscombe exhaust, the airplane will look factory-original when done. I believe the airplane was yellow over medium blue when new, as yellow butyrate is noted on one of the early wing repair 337s, and traces of blue paint were found in the lower cowling and fuselage when it was taken apart. When dad's flying club bought it in 1967, many of the "Deluxe" features were missing. I've spent years scrounging parts - cast nose bowl grills, stainless steel cowling and door trim, Deluxe instrument panels and "banjo" yokes, and the holy grails - Taylorcraft compass and original wheel pants. Connections made through this forum have been an invaluable resource for parts, drawings, information and advice.
If anyone knows more about of any of the people in the airplane's history, please let me know.
David Luebke
Associated people, places, dates and events chronologically arranged based on existing logbooks, FAA records of 337s, bills of sale and other documents, and internet research
July 1, 1941 Built as a BC12-65 “Deluxe” S/N 3028, Taylorcraft Aviation Corporation, Alliance, OH.
July 8, 1941 Registered with the CAA as NC36061, empty weight recorded as 744 pounds.
July 15, 1941 Sold to the Phoenix Aeronautical Club, c/o Coca-Cola Corporation, Phoenix, AZ. A.L. Gagmier, President; Jesse H. Anderson, Treasurer; J. H. Cason, Secretary. Flown to Phoenix, AZ and maintained at Sky Harbor Airport.
July 19, 1941 Taylorcraft steerable tail wheel installed by Southwest Airways, Sky Harbor Airport.
Sept 7, 1941 Accident reported; Sensenich 72C44 propeller replaced, left gear leg aft tube spliced by Carl Knier, Sky Harbor Airport. Returned to service September 18, 1941.
Nov 28, 1941 Accident reported; one right wing nose rib replaced by Carl Knier, Sky Harbor Airport. Returned to service December 8, 1941.
-Carl "Pappy" Knier was a key figure in Phoenix aviation history. He started a CPT program at Sky Harbor Airport in 1939, owned Sky Harbor Air Service, an FBO at Sky Harbor Airport, was manager of Sky Harbor Airport, and served as a CAP wing commander.
May 21, 1942 Accident reported; left wing rear spar spliced in outer bay, left wing tip bow replaced by Ernie Longbrake, Phoenix, AZ. Returned to service June 3, 1942.
Aug 25, 1942 Accident reported; fuselage cross member between forward wing attach fittings spliced, right wing attach fittings reinforced, right front doorpost down tube spliced, six ribs replaced and two ribs repaired in right wing, right wing recovered, three wing struts and both jury struts replaced by Ernie Longbrake, Phoenix, AZ. Returned to service November 25, 1942.
-Emmett Lee "Ernie" Longbrake appears to be a rather colorful figure in the aviation history of the southwestern United States. I found lore of his exploits flying for Pancho Villa before founding the White Phantoms, an aerial display team that did movie work, and barnstorming around the west and southwest. He apparently eventually settled in Phoenix.
July 31, 1943 Accident reported at Young, AZ; right front wing attach fitting on fuselage replaced, right wing rebuilt with 10 new ribs, compression tube and drag wire replaced, new front and rear spars, new leading edge. Left wing rear spar replaced, both left wing struts replaced, both jury struts replaced, right gear leg replaced, engine mount, engine, and propeller replaced, rudder replaced; entire airplane recovered. Repairs by Fred O. Grissom, Gilpin Airport, Tucson, AZ and Thomas O. Larkins, Globe Vocational School, Globe, AZ. Returned to service September 20, 1944.
Oct 14, 1943 Sold to Roy B. Wilson, Young, AZ.
Nov 10, 1944 Application for recertification after major repair, TT 1468:40. “Special Use” note indicates operation by the Civil Air Patrol.
Nov 20, 1944 Sold to Conner Johnson, Phoenix, AZ.
Sept 7, 1945 Sold to John H. Nagel, dba Nagel Flying Service, Compton, CA municipal airport.
Oct 26, 1945 Sold to H. L. Crumrine, Imperial, CA. Maintained at Brawley, CA municipal airport.
July 13, 1946 Oldest log book begins, 1226:55 brought forward from March 31, 1943.
Sept 5, 1946 Sold to Nick Natte, Los Angeles, CA.
Sept 8, 1947 Wings, ailerons, stabilizers and elevators recovered by Louis A. Stolp, Stolp-Adams Company, Compton, CA municipal airport.
-Lou Stolp was a B-17 tail gunner and aircraft mechanic during WWII. He later designed the Stolp-Adams Starduster experimental biplane with partner George Adams, as well as the Starlet parasol, Acroduster and others, and became a key figure in the early experimental and homebuilding movement.
Nov 18, 1947 Sold to Henry Leroy Glass, Redondo Beach, CA.
Jan 28, 1949 Sold to Leonard Bethel, Bishop, CA, later relocated to Lancaster, CA.
Oct 10, 1949 Fuselage and rudder recovered by Harland C. Ross, Bishop, CA.
June 1, 1950 Sold to Harry Myer, Mojave, CA.
July 18, 1951 Sold to Sherman C. Loudermilk, Burbank, CA.
-Sherman Loudermilk was a Marine Corps combat artist in the Pacific during WWII, and became an early KTLA-TV personality in the Los Angeles area, portraying "Cowboy Slim" on his live kids' western show. Later he returned to artwork in Hollywood, working on many TV shows and movies.
Oct 4, 1952 Sold to Donald Charles Foster, Los Angeles, CA.
Feb 13, 1953 Sold to Charles G. Horn, Fillmore, CA.
June 3, 1953 Sold to Phillip D. Keister, Ojai, CA. Relocated to Missouri at some point.
Feb 24, 1955 Airplane recovered by John W. Hackbarth.
Sept 27, 1957 Right gear leg aft tube and streamline tie rod tube spliced; right wing rear spar spliced in outer bay and right rear wing strut repaired; both wings recovered by James W. Flanagan, Lebanon, MO. Empty weight reported as 634 pounds (doubtful).
Oct 10, 1957 Generator, battery, and radio equipment installed by James Wallace Flanagan, Lebanon, MO for fire patrol use by Missouri State Forestry. Empty weight reported as 717 pounds (very doubtful).
Jan 10, 1958 All electrical and radio equipment removed by James W. Flanagan, Lebanon, MO. Empty weight reported as 634 pounds (110lbs below original factory weight, very doubtful).
Jan 30, 1958 Sold to the Condor Club, USAF ROTC, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, H. Nyall Bemis, president.
Feb 16, 1960 Sold to Paul N. Andreas, Jr, Mount Vernon, OH. Richard Stouffer, Condor Club president.
Nov 6, 1961 Sold to Robert L. Green and James E. Muston, Utica, OH.
Dec 5, 1963 Sold to John W. Price and Henry W. Coughlin, Columbus, OH.
May 17, 1964 Recovered with Irish linen by John W. Price, Columbus, OH.
July 27, 1964 Sold to David L. Deever, Westerville, OH. Relocated to LeMars, IA at some point and became a derelict hangar queen there.
Dec 9, 1967 Sold to Henry W. Luebke, et al, c/o the Sioux Falls Police Department flying club, Sioux Falls, SD.
Jan 10, 1973 Sole ownership transferred to Henry W. Luebke, Sioux Falls, SD.
August, 1990 Dismantled and placed in storage due to wing tip damage and failing fabric.
ca. 2000 After several years in storage, the fuselage, tail feathers, landing gear, engine mount and H-yoke were sandblasted. Gerry Phillips, Larchwood, IA made repairs as needed, including lower rudder tube, tail post and aft lower longeron replacement due to surface pitting, although the inside of the old tubing looked new. Gerry had a PMA to build new/repair PA-12 fuselages, and his welds were perfect. All powder coated and put back in storage.
2011-Present Restoration of wings and ailerons undertaken by Doc Walker, Sioux Falls, SD. All ribs cleaned, repaired or replaced and primed; all new spars built from scratch; Terry Bowden's STC for gross weight increase to 1280lbs applied to wing fittings. New aluminum wing tanks, new .020 leading edges and new trailing edges fitted. New stainless steel drag/anti-drag wires installed. New aileron spars and leading and trailing edges made up. Ailerons and wings ready for cover in the fall of 2015.
----
It is truly amazing that this airplane has survived. With over 1400 hours in just over three years, and its extensive damage history, it was obviously used very hard, and its a wonder it was not just parted out or left abandoned somewhere.
My dad gave me my first airplane ride in 36061 in August, 1969 when I was six weeks old. It was kept in a hangar dad built from an old salvaged hangar and flown from a 1320' grass runway on the 40 acres we lived on. I grew up flying with dad, then learning to fly when I could reach the rudder pedals. He wasn't an instructor, but did a good job anyway, as I soloed on my 16th birthday with 2.7 hours of dual in my logbook. I was signed off by Russell Zangger, Larchwood, IA, Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame member and legendary Taylorcraft instructor. At one time, Russell had three Taylorcrafts, all painted the same red, black and white scheme. His son Jim still has one of them.
The current restoration effort probably wouldn't have begun if not for the persistence of Doc Walker in getting it out of storage and into his shop. Doc has been a master craftsman/builder/restorer for years, and even worked at Rare Aircraft in Minnesota building Wacos and such for a while. He is very meticulous and his attention to detail will make this airplane much better than it was when new. Apart from adding Terry Bowden's STCs for a C-85/O-200 and maybe Luscombe exhaust, the airplane will look factory-original when done. I believe the airplane was yellow over medium blue when new, as yellow butyrate is noted on one of the early wing repair 337s, and traces of blue paint were found in the lower cowling and fuselage when it was taken apart. When dad's flying club bought it in 1967, many of the "Deluxe" features were missing. I've spent years scrounging parts - cast nose bowl grills, stainless steel cowling and door trim, Deluxe instrument panels and "banjo" yokes, and the holy grails - Taylorcraft compass and original wheel pants. Connections made through this forum have been an invaluable resource for parts, drawings, information and advice.
If anyone knows more about of any of the people in the airplane's history, please let me know.
David Luebke
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