Hey guys,

I came across an STC on the FAA site from Del Aire that converts C172's to taildragger.

I have an omni vision swept tail 1966 C172H, the Del air STC lists my aircraft as being covered under the STC. I've been searching for a while now to find an available STC to do this. I've already talked to EZflap about it, but his STC doesn't cover my airframe.

My question is, does anyone know if Del Aire actively sell the STC to customers?

I came across Del Aires contact number, so was going to call this week some time.

Cheers
Brady

Last time I talked to Chris, he was keeping the business going. That was a while ago, but I really hope he does. Harry was such a valuable contributor to keeping these old birds flying.

It's my understanding that Harry Dellicker bought the old "Texas Taildragger" STC's some years ago,
including the 150TD but nore sure about the 172.
He never really marketed them,
not sure if his son is doing that now or not.
I heard the problem was sourcing the manufacturing of the gear legs & other assorted parts.

Chris is keeping the business open and dose GREAT work. cant say enough about his expertise. I know he lets nothing out of that shop unless it's Right. Sorry I don't know anything about the 172 conversion. Just give Chris a call at: 559-784-9440

Thanks guys,

I got hold of Delaires answering service, before realising i was calling out of business hours. I'll try again tomorrow.

Am i right in thinking Delaires STC is the old Texas taildragger STC?

Cheers
Brady

According to the FAA library website, DelAir holds a shitload of STC's--
including one for a C150 t/w conversion and another one for a C172 t/w conversion.
The 150 STC is #SA2846SW, which I'm pretty sure is what I had on my old C150TD.
Developed by Custom Aircraft Conversions in TX & marketed as the Texas Taildragger, later owned Aircraft Conversion Technologies in CA.
The 172TD STC is #SA5433SW. An old magazine article I have indicates this is also the old CAC Texas Taildragger STC.

The Del Aire 150T/W STC included a gross weight increase that none of the other did. Its the coveted STC for 150s. From 1600 to 1760lbs.
I've seen three 172 and one 175 T/W conversions that used the Ralph Bolen( now the Williams folks) STC. they look good and perform fine.

Excellent! Thanks guys!

I called Del Aire this morning. Del Aire carries the STC for straight tail and swept tail C172s up the the C172P.

They do not sell a paperwork only STC, you have to buy the full parts package from them also.

I was pretty excited at this point, until he said that they are currently not producing kits. The demand is very low so they are not producing kits at this time. They took my contact details and put them on a list that they are populating, when the list is large enough to be worth while they will look at doing a run on the kits again.

So... i think ill be looking elsewhere.

Has any one got Williams number from Udall?

Cheers
Brady

I've never tried, but I have heard numerous reports of unsatisfactory dealings with those folks in Udall-
including from some people I know personally.
Doesns't someone (Stoots?) up in AK have a 172 t/w STC?

Logpile wrote: The Del Aire 150T/W STC included a gross weight increase that none of the other did. Its the coveted STC for 150s. From 1600 to 1760lbs.

I don't believe that's quite correct.
I had the all three "Texas Taildragger" STC's on my old C150/150TD-
t/w conversion, 320 Lycoming conversion, 40 gallon tanks.
The gross weight increase from 1600 to 1760 was incorporated into the 320 conversion STC.
And it only applied to 1964 D models and newer, with factory gross of 1600#--
NOT the 1959-63 C150's with 1500# gross.

I humbly stand corrected, I was thinking 150HP and TW conversions at the same time.... I will try to not make that mistake again

Sadly Stoots STC does not cover swept tail 172's. I've already contacted them to confirm it.

I can get all the parts i need to do the conversion at an awesome price, and a lot of them i already have, and the aircraft is heaving disassembled for other re-work.
It would be a shame to miss the opportunity for the sake of an STC unavailability.

Cheers
Brady

Fravel?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

88Echo wrote:Fravel? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think that's now the "EZ-Tail" STC.

The Fravel tailwheel conversion, as it stands now, does not cover the later 172's. I believe it is 172 / A / B / C as it is now. I happen to believe that he has a fair chance of using an existing STC (Fravel, Stoots, others), plus a one-shot Field Approval from a DER/FSDO, to get his airplane done legally.

Hotrod has it wrong, EZ-Tail is the name of my new drive-thru bordello franchise business concept...

Thanks guys!!!

I contacted a guy here in Australia that can approve single aircraft only STC, it's Australias version of the USA's field approval thingy. It's less involved than a multi aircraft STC, but still requires a decent amount of engineering info to get approval.

He said the actual work is straight forward (especially in my position) but the paperwork is the difficult and expensive part. And our regulator (CASA), is usually less than helpful.. But ill get there..

I might contact Del Aire again and question them further...

Cheers
Brady

Tell your engineering person that the "certification basis" can be based on the fact that the primary OEM Cessna structural parts are approved for gross weights far higher than your 172, so that primary engineering, load analysis, etc. has already mostly been done and accepted.

The only NEW engineering analysis that you would need is to show that the later 172 fuselage structure carries the loads (the load paths going outward from the approved Cessna gear "boxes" and bulkhead reinforcements and into the larger fuselage skins) the same way as the earlier fuselage structure. This is obvious to anyone who has seen the aircraft structure of course, but the fact that you had a new analysis done on the one difference between the old fuselage and the new fuselage allows CASA to check a box and turn the page.

Excellent!

Thanks EZ!

I'm still working on this, and going ahead with this if anyone is interested.

Does anyone on here own or have owned a 172 taildragger with the swept tail? I'm curious if the tail has had any doublers or reinforcements added? Has anyone got any photos?

I recently discovered the Bolen conversion has additional stiffeners added to the tail running from the bulkhead behind the rear seats all the way down the length of the tail. This is on a straight tail 172, I can only assume the swept tail is not as strong...

The only swept tail 172 tail wheel converted plane I know of
belonged to Jim Larkin a long time ago. May have a slim chance
to get the tail number for research but may take a few days.

Another old pilot here used to complain about his a lot.
Mostly just the horsepower.

The big problem for Chris at Delair will be the usual problem of getting the
main gear made if it is not a stock part. Took me almost two years to get
a new 180 wheels forward set from ? XP Mods ? around 2004-2006.
Believe they are still in business somewhere- somehow- some-name.

Chris C