Fiddlers Green

I would like to see a model of a Taylorcraft. My Grandfather bought a Taylorcraft when he was 68 years old, had no pilots license. When my father (USAF) asked him what he planned to do with it he said... "I'M GONNA LEARN HOW TO FLY IT!" It was the ugliest green you could possibly imagine, then he recovered the aircraft himself at the age of __, and finally had it repainted to something he actually liked. My goal is to builf four FG models and then, if no one has designed a Taylorcraft by then, I will do it myself. If they have I will add the two paint jobs and tail numbers as a repaint if Chip is interested. Please excuse spelling, fat fingers and past my bedtime.

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I make stuff.

Forgot to metnion that when talking to my father about designing this model he reminded me that the wings on the T-Craft are the same wings as the Piper Cub. (Should make the design easier) There is an interesting story behid this... Taylor, the designer of the Piper Cub, was forced to do things he didn't agree with by the Piper aircraft company. Eventuallly he left Piper Aircraft to form his own company, which built the Tylorcraft using the yoke her prefered in the cockpit over a stick as in the Cub. Very simplified version of the story, but will make a good beginning for the aircraft history section of the instruction sheet. More research needed though.

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I make stuff.

Great goal setting! A Taylorcraft shouldn't be too hard to make. It has fairly similar lines to the Cub, and some things may be able to be used from the Cub files. That should make it somewhat easier.

we will be waiting patiently.....

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Laterz
Possm_23
Never say anything you wouldnt think out loud!
Take your time leavin.....but hurry back!!!!
Every tub has to sit on its own bottom!!!!

Sort of. The early Taylor Cubs had USA 35B airfoils like the Pipers, but the BC-12s, which are the most common T-Crafts, had NACA 23012 airfoils (thinner and with more camber of the bottom surface), which gave the airplane improved cruise performance, but less forgiveness in the stall (watched a T-Craft years ago, in a short field takeoff contest, stall at 400 feet and plunge instantly into a spin, critically injuring its occupants when it struck the runway).

Paper Models International might still have some BC-12s available, by Robert Kaelin, an exceptionally well detailed model.

I was having NOBI design a Taylorcraft L-2 for me, but I haven't heard anything back for a while.

Ryan

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Ryan

www.lbirds.com

"Short field takeoff contest..."? Isn't that a little like standing around, pulling a tiger's tail to see who it eats first?

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I make stuff.

Not if done properly. All private and commercial pilot students are taught how to do short field takeoffs. A stall/spin at 400 feet sounds like a serious pilot error, Once you're 100 feet or so off the ground you should already be transitioning to best climb speed or at least holding VX - which is best angle of climb.

Ryan

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Ryan

www.lbirds.com

I agree about the short field takeoff training, very valuable, what I question is the "contest" part of it. Sounds like an excellent way to encourage a pilot forego common sense. I would be willing to bet that in the incident mentioned focusing too much on the competition aspect contibuted to the clear pilot error later.
All just my opinion though, and probably influenced by Carpentry Lesson #1; "See these fingers...count 'em" Still got all ten after years around sharp stuff.

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I make stuff.

Yeah, but still, if you're stalling out at 400' there's something MAJORLY wrong. Contests tend to be good because they force you to sharpen your skills. And yes, I've participated in such competitions. Two time spot field landing winner at our local field.

Ryan

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Ryan

www.lbirds.com

i have all ten of mine and i been teaching woodworking for 19 yrs......knock on leps head...oops...i mean wood.....

_________________
Laterz
Possm_23
Never say anything you wouldnt think out loud!
Take your time leavin.....but hurry back!!!!
Every tub has to sit on its own bottom!!!!