Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

[Ryan]

Just brought back a new addition to our family tonight, 1953 Taylorcraft 15A tourist. Needs some cosmetic parts put back on her, but other than that ready to go. Was a great flight home. More pics when we get her all together.

[TimHicks]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Wow. Where did you find that? What's the back story on that ship?

[Ryan]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Tim, it came out of New Jersey. We bought off a guy who had bought it as part of an auction. It was missing some cosmetic pieces and had other pieces off of it so we had to kind of put it back together. We are currently working with Forrest to piece together the airplanes complete history. It really is a neat airplane and so far we have been really impressed with its performance. It lands at only 3mph faster than our BC12D and seems to climb right out of places.

[Ryan]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

My Dad and I now have around 6 hours in the 15A. Have been really impressed with it's performance so far. Even with two people and full tanks it has broken ground well within 500 ft and climbed out with authority. With a single person it will break ground much earlier and climb out at 60mph at a pretty steep angle. Landings are very short. Stall speed is 38 mph. I can get it in shorter than the BC12D. And the back seat are is fairly large. I am 6'3 235 lbs and I fit very comfortably back there.

[TimHicks]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

That's fantastic! What engine does it have?
I know nothing about the 15A.

[PA1195]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

The wing's airfoil looks more like a Cub's...flatter on the bottom and a more rolled down leading edge (USA-35B).

Interesting discussion about the performance: http://www.j3-cub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23972

Gary

[N96337]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

That's awesome Ryan!! Glad to see it's in good hands that will fly it!! I love the paint scheme and color!
John

[Ryan]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Thanks guys! Tim it has a continental C-145 which is the early 0-300 145hp. And yes the wing is flat on the bottom more like a piper. The result is it really probably flys more like a long winged piper in that it slows way down jumps off the ground but is not overly fast. Seems to cruise around 105 mph. Our pacer is definitely faster. It actually flies along with the BC12D fairly well at a slightly reduced power setting.

[PA1195]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Thanks guys! Tim it has a continental C-145 which is the early 0-300 145hp. And yes the wing is flat on the bottom more like a piper. The result is it really probably flys more like a long winged piper in that it slows way down jumps off the ground but is not overly fast. Seems to cruise around 105 mph. Our pacer is definitely faster. It actually flies along with the BC12D fairly well at a slightly reduced power setting.

If possible how about some more pictures of the wings? Specifically a view looking tip to fuselage along the bottom, some closeups of the LE slot and controls...flaps and ailerons (are they metal like Cessna's?). Any more pics would be good to view.

Another: http://www.gowest2.com/taylorcraft.html

There was one of these in Fairbanks years ago but I only have a vague recollection...probably in the '70's. Might have been in rough shape then.

Gary

[Ryan]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Sure Gary I will get some. Believe it or not the one in Fairbanks was brought to ohio in the 80s and rebuilt at my airport. It is now in Virginia and is for sale. Easy to keep track of so few airframes! I will get some pictures for the curious.

[PA1195]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Sure Gary I will get some. Believe it or not the one in Fairbanks was brought to ohio in the 80s and rebuilt at my airport. It is now in Virginia and is for sale. Easy to keep track of so few airframes! I will get some pictures for the curious.

I'm simply wondering to what form and why Taylorcraft changed wings. C.G. Taylor or another engineer may have gone back to the Cub wing for lift or ??? The controls and slot somewhat mimic the Stinson 108 design, but they used a 4412 airfoil like Champs and heavy wing loading. Maybe that was the competition at that time?

There was also a fiberglass Model 20 Taylorcraft up here...I think it was in the nearby city of North Pole (lost track of that). Last seen it was shedding its skin like a snake but may have been rescued.

Gary

[Ryan]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Remember that the model 15As were built in Conway pa not alliance ohio and CG was no longer a part of the company. So he was not part of the design team. Having said that I am as curious as you are as to why they changed the airfoil. The more interesting question would be what wing the model 15 built in 1944 at alliance had. That airplane was designed by CG Taylor and co. And you are right Gary it shares many physical qualities with a Stinson and the aeronca sedan.

[PA1195]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

P.176 of Chet's book seems to indicate there was development spanning several years prior to production of the 15's. I know little else and perhaps others could offer a fill on what and why. It may have been a work in progress during the War years and several engineers may have contributed to the final design.

The Stinson 10 series was around at that time, same for the L-5. Maybe T was initially interested in competing for an air ambulance to fill Military needs? If so, STOL and load carrying might have trumped speed. No point in flying fast if you can't land short and then take off with a design load.

Gary

[M Towsley]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Great addition, Ryan. Glad you guys got ahold of this and are enjoying it.

[Ryan]

Re: Taylorcraft 15A N23JW

Gary I must stand corrected. After rereading portions on Chet Peek's book, I find that CG Taylor was still infact VP of Taylorcraft after the move to Conway Pa. although he did not move with the factory and was really not a factor in the day to day operations. It did state that CG did have a hand in the redesign of the Model 15 (from 1944 and which their was only 1 example of) which became the 1950s Model 15A airplanes and are a different Type Certificate. However, Chet states that the most of the redesign came in the fuselage in terms of making it lighter and allowing for a more powerful engine. I agree with you that the general idea of the design was more for carrying weight and STOL performance rather than the earlier speed designs. The airplane itself is built like a Sherman Tank. Huge fittings, bolts etc... They seem to share more design qualities with the over built D models (L2) than the lighter weight B models. Gear, struts, and jury struts are more of the D model design. The slats are metal, but ours has been covered by a fabric and then attached to the wings leading edge. Here are some shotty pics I had of the wings. I will take some high quality ones this weekend when at the airport.