Hello all, I have the opportunity to purchase a Taylorcraft BC- 12D and was wondering if this would be a decent starter plane and also considered a good plane for training purposes. I do most of my own mechanical work but would have more work doubled checked by a certified aircraft mechanic. Cheers and thank you!

Hard to beat a Taylorcraft for learning to fly. Most Taylorcrafts only have brakes on the left side. Not a problem once you're competent in the plane, but many instructors will want brakes on the right side as well.

Good to know and I would think that updating the brakes would be a good idea, thanks!

Warmblood58 wrote:Good to know and I would think that updating the brakes would be a good idea, thanks!

Might be easier said than done.

Warmblood58 wrote:Good to know and I would think that updating the brakes would be a good idea, thanks!

A good shop here in Alaska would be about $3-4K to upgrade to disc brakes including right side brakes. That's with you providing most of the parts.

Shop around for a CFI that will instruct without brakes on their side. They may want you to get some dual tailwheel time in another bird first, but 5-10 hours will typically be plenty.

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I learned my fly in a Luscombe which only has brakes on the left side. My first instructor was uncomfortable so I flew right seat. I only logged 3 hrs with him before I had to change instructors. The next guy was a crusty ag pilot that didn’t care about not having brakes. Really he didn’t care about much, only teaching me to fly the airplane. We had no radio or headsets so I learned with him yelling in my ear. It was a fantastic way to learn.

Buy the T-craft and find a good instructor.

Good trainer. Mechanical brakes were for turning on the ground, not for guiding or stopping.

T-Craft is a great starter plane. And a darn good plane for later on.

Find a good instructor who’s got lots of tailwheel time.

When I was buying my first plane it had expander brakes, and I asked the (crusty) IA and CFI who did the pre buy for me about those brakes. His response was : “You’re sposed to FLY da damn ting, not STOP it!”

He was mostly right.

Have fun.

MTV

mtv wrote:When I was buying my first plane...

I though that ops out of Kitty Hawk didnt need any brakes since you guys were landing on sand?

I recommend you resolve the brake requirements and any potential maintenance issues for a Taylorcraft before purchase and starting instruction.

Why? Here's an example of an approved hydraulic brake conversion kit before installation labor. Note dual brake pedals would cost even more: http://dc65stc.blogspot.com/2016/06/ano ... heels.html I have a similar conversion and it does work, but the cost can equal 25% of the plane's value.

The downside of Taylorcraft: While generally low in initial purchase price the plane is not as well supported with replacement parts as some other aircraft. The "factory" which holds the model paperwork and tooling is a Cloud company living out of a warehouse in Texas. There are parts available from other sources but to fix or replace can get expensive. For a plane that may mean spending a high percentage of the recoverable total plane's value just to keep them flying. Read ads in Barnstormer's for asking price and equipment: https://www.barnstormers.com/index.php Buy it already done instead of doing it later.

The upside of Taylorcraft: If airworthy they are fast, fuel efficient, and fun to fly. They will test you and require you be a competent pilot in adverse weather.

Again I suggest you canvass local instructors and see if they would be willing to train in the plane you have in mind. Also talk with local mechanics about their thoughts on maintaining the plane.

I've owned two and have flown better and worse.

Gary

I bought a '41 BC12D when I had zero hours, and never gave much thought to the brakes or lack thereof. The joke was it's great for transitioning to skis, where you will definitely have no braking. Assuming it has no flaps, you should come out of your training very proficient with slips, which is a good skill to have in your bag of tricks. The only drawback to mine for instruction was it had no electrical system, so it became necessary to rent a school's trainer for VOR work, and nighttime cross countries. The side-by side seating can be desirable for dual. And the standard advice- go sit in one and make sure it fits you (and any potential instructor), is well heeded. The side visibility under the wing is reduced in direct relation to how tall you sit in the saddle. Great plane, if you get a good one.
-DP

All great advice, thank you!

The advice you get on here...everyone knows you can't learn in a taildragger...that's an endorsement you try to obtain once you're a pilot. But good luck, 'cause it takes a special sort of man to fly those birds.

Like MTV's IA CFI said, don't sweat the brakes; just learn to fly the airplane. They're designed to fly, not drag race. Parts? I thought all Taylorcraft parts were owner provided. Tubes, fabric, engine, prop. What else is there?

T-Cart-The pure simple essence of flying. Master it and you will aquired a set of skills that will serve you well in any other aircraft you wish to fly. They are a simple pure joy to fly. In the class of the light two seaters of the post war 1940s. Find a real taildragger CFI and go for it! -Brakes are over rated. Just learn to fly correctly!

But . . . there was a time when beginners learned flying tail draggers as trainer planes, right? There were no tri -equipped planes in those days . . .

Because of primacy, what we learn first establishes our orientation, it is much easier to learn tailwheel first. Having an old, mean instructor in trike works if he makes you use your feet to bracket taxi line, centerline, and centerline extended. Also distant target on cross country.

Unfortunately, nose gear, long runway, and V speed orientation in testing have done away with most contact flying skills. Getting back to them takes some searching nowdays.

I initially trained on my father Super Cub on floats, and used a Champ on wheels for my PPL fight test, go for it and enjoy the learning opportunity

Perhaps the most significant challenge you’ll face if you go this route will be to find an instructor that’s qualified and will work with you.

MTV

Bigrenna wrote:

mtv wrote:When I was buying my first plane...

I though that ops out of Kitty Hawk didnt need any brakes since you guys were landing on sand?

Drug our toes in the sand. Tough on shoe leather......

MTV