Aero-TV: 'It's My Real Airplane' - Mike Slingluff's 65HP Taylorcraft
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2024
- The 'T-Craft' Is One Of The True GA Icons That Built This Business
There is no such thing as a generic 'perfect' airplane... until you find one for yourself. And mind you, different airplanes can be perfect at different times... and for Mike Slingluff, riding herd on one of the best FBO's on the SouthEast, his 65HP Taylorcraft is often THE perfect airplane.
The 'T-Craft' is the brainchild of a legendary figure in GA... a fellow named Clarence Gilbert Taylor, reported to have been a self-taught aeronautical engineer from Nottingham, England -- and often called the father of private aviation in America -- starting with his work on the original Taylor Cub WAY BACK in 1931. At one time a partner with none other than William T Piper himself, the usual difficulties arose when engineer Taylor ran into conflicts with businessman Piper... leaving them both to go their own ways. Taylor formed his own company in 1935 and eventually 'improved' on the Cub with a design that boasted a faster wing, side-by-side seating and better performance.
And while the term 'better' may be a relative one, there is no question that the T-Craft is a solid performer... with regular cruise speeds of 110 mph recorded for a design that burns 3.5 GPH with only a 65HP four-cylinder Continental doing business up front. With excellent manners in the air and docile performance on the ground, the T-Craft also boasts the ability to be flown, legally, as an LSA under today's regs... a 'perfect' airplane, indeed.
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I like this guy.... He has not lost touch. Black beauty!!!
Back in the ‘70s I owned and flew a 1947 Tcraft and loved every minute of flying in it. It was the plane I learned to fly in. Wish I had kept it.
Mike, I took flying lessons as a teenager in a taylorcraft. Now I am 80, but I will never forget sinking the cork in a turn and thinking I was out of gas when the wire sunk.
He's also very good at saving a situation in a DGA-15 that's quickly going south !!! EC
I learned to fly in a Tcraft. Loved that plane.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Ive not gotten my ppl just yet but I will. Allready looking at what planes I might enjoy. This looks perfect. Thank you!
Great sight seeing machine. Must be a blast to fly
You NEVER get 100mph out of this. I love the plane, and I had N24408 1940 BC-65 in Arkansas. I now have a 1940 BL-65. But 110? NO WAY, even with 80HP!
Your history is way off. Taylor designed the Taylor Cub & Piper (his accountant) took the company. So Taylor started a new company & redesigned the plane with the new airfoil & all cables inside to blow the J-3 away. You'll notice it has low frontal area similar to the Monocoup. The Taylor cub was redesigned for Piper by Jamouneau, hense "J" 3
It flies, it's beautiful.
Nice and beauty old plane
Sweet aircraft!
Like I totally get it... what a beauty... it's genius is it's simplicity
I owned a 1979 F-19 Taylorcraft back in 1985, it was equipped with the continental 0-200 engine, and yes it would cruise at a little over 100MPH and burn less than 6 GPH
Beautiful T-Cart! However, 110-115 mph is a bit misleading. I've got two of'em and 80 is more realistic (75 with two on board and full tanks). You can make a T-Cart go 110 but you'll lose a lot of altitude in the process! They also hold 18 gallons of fuel, 12 in the header and 6 in the wing. My 1946 has two wing tanks for 24 total.
Performance can vary a lot with rigging. Washout increases speed while losing lift while wash-in gives more lift while reducing speed. Best to consult the manual and set it by the book. But 95 is a realistic cruise goal for 65 regardless. Souls On Board W&B and Density Altitude are key factors as always.
My Dad had a jet black '39 with wheel pants. What a sharp looker! He used to fly passengers from Pottstown, PA to Florida. I think it had less then 65 hp, I'm not sure. I would love to have a T-craft and get this.............. To get my pilots license on too! I hope this is possible. Do you know anyone whose selling their Taylorcraft?
Dwight Betten - there's one in the Denver Craigslist Feb 2021 .....I have thought the same as you - buy the plane and use it to learn / get my certificate.
T-Crafts are great planes and that's a beautiful example, but as the others said 110 mph and 3.5 gpa, no way; 95 on a good day and 4.5 gph is more realistic.
Bet me to it! My BL12 has a 65 Lycoming and gets 4.25 GPH and if I push it with a new 72" metal prop on a cool day I can get 95 mph. Would love to see his get what he claims... though with 2 fewer ribs to a wing panel is a bit lighter.
I remember mine would burn about 4.2gph and would cruise about 92mph. It had a 65hp Continental engine in it with a metal prop.
Good to go.