Restoration of a BC-12-D

Tom-D

Tom-D

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Tom-D
Would there be a market to support the restoration of a Taylorcraft BC12-D? they do go Light Sport. There are a number of older pilots that learned to fly in them, and are not flying the light sport aircraft.

I estimate 15,000 to restore.
 
Would depend on the initial buy in cost, There are a few that pop up on the market still, but I haven't been watching closely to see how long they stay. They are eligible for the mechaincally adjustable beech-roby, which if previously installed would negate the LSA. As im sure you know. I would think that a really nice, light one with no AD lift struts would pull $25k on the high end.
 
Tom, I really appreciate saving old planes like the T craft BC series, but it's gotta be a labor of love. The very top of the market is prolly about $25k, maybe a bit more, and when you figure in the new struts needed, and all the materials for fabric, it's prolly gonna be a losing proposition from a financial perspective. There's been one for sale E of DFW for a few years in good shape asking $24k, then down to $21, then $18k and I think it finally sold for under that. It had fabric repl in 2009, 156 hours on the engine, metal prop, looked good but needed the struts repl. I was pretty interested in it for a while, but my plan to put a turbocharger on it didn't pan out so I gave up.

LSA market is something to consider, but I would say a lot of folks just don't fit in a BC-12 these days. Getting in and out at my age is a lotta work, and not much fun compared to something newer in LSA, but at higher cost.
 
For $15K they will sell. I sold one for $16K that wasn't that nice (but a lot better than when I bought it) about two years ago. I think something you do up nicely would probably be capable of pulling $18-22K if marketed properly. Find a way to put dual brakes in it and keep it light it is more marketable.

I hope to be in the market for a -12 again someday in the future. They are great airplanes.

Ryan
 
If you do end up restoring a TCraft, I hear that wheel fenders are all the rage!!
 
Wally Olson was the greatest instructor to ever live. He had 30,000 hours instructing in Taylorcrafts.

 
You might like to watch "taylorcraft fun with dani." This BC12D was completely rebuilt in 96 by a real pro. Ground up. He was a retired high school shop teacher. It is a trophy winner. 65 hp Engine approx. 700 hours. He sold it for 24500.00 . It is perfect inside out. It needed new sealed struts for around 2500.00 more plus installation. It's a nice flying airplane but the taylorcraft needs at least 85 hp to be "fun" an 0200 would be even better . This aircraft is currently located in Arizona.
 
Does not NEED 85hp to be fun...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk
 
RyanShort1 said:
Does not NEED 85hp to be fun...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk
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I've owned three over the years. At sea level, two people , summer day it's a real drag with full tanks. The 85 really makes a difference with the correct metal prop. With one person , 12 gallons of gas , it really responds a lot better, shorter field access, etc. same with the aeronca champ I owned. All these depression era aircraft were underpowered. I'm 6 foot, 190 lbs, no problem flying.......if alone. With two it's tight.
 
Cool. I've had two so you have me beat. It helps if one is on the lighter side but I've flown mine on some pretty hot Texas days with students and they do just fine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk
 
My first GA flight was in a 39 Taylorcraft that belonged to a coworker of my dads.

That took place about 30 years ago and all 3 are now gone....

If Tom builds it, I might buy it.
 
red4golf said:
My first GA flight was in a 39 Taylorcraft that belonged to a coworker of my dads.

That took place about 30 years ago and all 3 are now gone....

If Tom builds it, I might buy it.
Click to expand...
let's talk.

call me, It is the yellow one that had the accident at PAE.
 
Tom-D said:
let's talk.

call me, It is the yellow one that had the accident at PAE.
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I'll give you a jingle in the next couple of days. I assume that it was the Pearl Harbor day plane.

If it is, it doesn't look bad if you ignore the wings.
 
red4golf said:
I'll give you a jingle in the next couple of days. I assume that it was the Pearl Harbor day plane.

If it is, it doesn't look bad if you ignore the wings.
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All 4 spars are broken, most of the ribs are broken, the left door post is bent, needs total re-cover, engine is quick stopped.

And it will be sold by the insurance co.
 
Ouch. Good thing they were built tough!

She still has many good years in her if put back together correctly. Might not have much in the way of resale but that isn't why you go for the classics. My 41 Chevy will never leave the family and my most recent classic purchase is a family favorite.

1a48bbddb984bf521284100062.jpg


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177e5a47fd159f0c1284525419.jpg
 
Tom-D said:
that is included in the 15k.
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If you can put one out the door for $15k, if you do a nice one, yeah, you could sell for $20+. The only problem is they aren't LSA in what you can put in the panel.:( That makes it expensive to compete in the LSA market. Hopefully they do something with Ex/NC before 2020.
 
I was looking at a Tcraft this past summer. It was a beautiful plane, and I really wanted it. I just couldn't fit in the plane. There was just no way to sit up and get comfortable, and I'm only 6' tall.
 
Myth
Shepherd said:
I was looking at a Tcraft this past summer. It was a beautiful plane, and I really wanted it. I just couldn't fit in the plane. There was just no way to sit up and get comfortable, and I'm only 6' tall.
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You can take the seat cushions out, or let the sling out a little. my grandpa put 1,000's of hours on ours, He's 6'7" and 275 pounds and 6foot 7 inches tall. Last time we were both in it, I was 16, no problems. There is a technique to getting in thou.

 
Shepherd said:
I was looking at a Tcraft this past summer. It was a beautiful plane, and I really wanted it. I just couldn't fit in the plane. There was just no way to sit up and get comfortable, and I'm only 6' tall.
Click to expand...

I'm just under 6' and I had a 6' 3" guy in mine and several others in the 6' range. The hardest part is getting in, after that it's better than a Cub.
 
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