Chief vs Taylorcraft

[Senior]

Looking for opinions from you guys that have owned or spent time in a 65hp Taylorcraft.
At present I'm flying a bit of a porky 11AC (Cotton fabric), but a super motor.
I have an opportunity at a Taylorcraft that needs completion including new fabric at a very reasonable $$, am going to look it over in the next few days. How do these quite similar crafts compare in terms of, cabin size, short field capabilities, handling, landing gear toughness etc? I know the Taylor is faster but that's not a huge issue to me, what I have also heard is the Taylor is much more capable of handling a set of floats than the Chief? I'm not sure I quite understand that as weights & wing loadings seem to be quite similar but there's very few 65hp Chiefs on floats!
Any ADs I would have to worry about?

[CptKelly]

Although I am certainly not an expert on floatplanes, my take on this is that ANY A-65 powered plane would be very, very marginal for a floatplane.

Mike

[Senior]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrcYWEYk ... re=related

[jc pacquin]

I only flew a T-Craft on floats a few times. (Instructor with me) It took a long time to get off the water. You'd get it up on one float eventually then it would labor into the air. I don't remember the horse power. I've flown a 65 hp T-craft on wheels and an 85 7BCM champ. Basically I think they both need an 0200 to be off the ground or water in a respectable distance, and then CLIMB well. I guess its what you want to do with it. Personally I would not want either on water without an 0200. But.....thats only my opinion which may not suit many others. Another BIG factor is a METAL prop pitched and sized for climb. Makes big difference also. JP

[WWhunter]

I "think" there is an AD on the struts. At one time they were expensive and hard to get a replacement for. I really don't know much more than that. I have heard very good things about the Taylorcraft and seem to always see them for sale reasonably priced...as in cheaper than most other TW planes.
WW

[Rick Hadley]

There is a major AD on the T-Craft wing struts requiring inspection and/or replacement. If they wind up needing replacement, figure on about $2k for a new set. The T-Cart is faster than a Chief, being close to a 100 mph aircraft. It may float a bit more on landing, has worse visibility if it doesn't have the rear windows or a skylight, and may have marginally less room in the cockpit. Parts can be a problem and there's a whole saga about the comings and goings of the company over the years that's much more involved than you want to know. There is a great Taylorcraft forum though. http://vb.taylorcraft.org/

[Paul Agaliotis]

The Tcraft are hard to get into, tough to get parts, hard to work on. They will float if your speeds are wrong. Visibility is less than a Chief, it's kinda like flying a pipe. They are a little faster.
Paul

[jc pacquin]

BC12D Taylorcaft 65 hp ON WHEELS gets off remarkably well for the horsepower. (nice big wings!) Cruises right along at 90-95 miles per hour. Engine compartment is easily accessible, similar to champ. You have to really slow it down on final to about 55-60 over the fence or it will boogie onward. Difficult to get into due to bar at entrance. Under 6' tall,(I'm 6 ft.) your fine.The 85 hp T Craft is better on climb and an 0200 would be great.....so would a Champ. For me its a toss up. They are both great designs and fun to fly. The T Craft requires you to be good at a slip as it really likes to keep flying. Its a big glider. Has nice lines too. I think they are a toss up. A real nice T craft should run about 25-28 grand, (Wheel pants, recent rebuild, low time engine,NICE interior, etc.) The Struts must be x rayed every four years to check for rust. This is due to ONE accident on floats. Also, strut lower attach points must be visually inspected. It mystifys me why Aeroncas and cubs should not also be checked, but thats the FAA. Better visability from the Champ. (BC12D has rear windows)Hope this helps. .....Forgot......TCraft has Shinn mechanical brakes which work very well if the person working on them knows what he's doing. They are adequate for the airplane. Like this site, TCraft forum has many very gifted mechanics who know their stuff and know where parts are.JP

[Senior]

Well, I am now the proud owner of a 12BD-65
Can I still be a member here...at least till it's together & my Chief is sold
Probably nobody here would believe the deal I got!
It's in a box but has most every new part that could be purchased included with sale, bungies, door frames, brakes& backing plates, all controll cables, etc & the clincher I even got all cover materials, dope, tapes etc, except paint. It can be viewed in Barnstormers under Taylorcraft search. It's dated Feb 11th & headlined SOLD. Add is priced at $8500 but I got it much lower (there's a story in it )

Thanks for the opinions

[WWhunter]

Congradulations Senior!!! I am sure it will end up being a nice little plane. i always tell everyone, ANY plane is better than no plane." I am not overtly a "brand" person especially when it comes to planes....I like them all!!
WW

[joea]

Senior,

Congrats and just make sure you find a good new home for the Chief, and tell them about this forum!

Joe A

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Cool! You'll love it!

I've talked with many very experienced pilots; and they all say a Taylorcraft is the best of the bunch (horsepower for horsepower.)

They seem to really shine when you start running out of options; high density altitude, heavy payload, short strips, small ponds, etc...

A buddy got his SEL in a 65hp T-cart. He's 250lbs, instructor was about 120lbs and they dropped into a 2500'x2500' pond at 5000'msl Turns out, the instructor had been eyeballing some kind of wild flower that grew up there. So add an extra 10lbs of shrubbery and they still got out of there no sweat; but they did have to make about 2 laps before lift-off.

Quite impressive to hear him tell that tale.

nkh

[Captgrumps]

Taylorcarfts will float on landing--they are not like a Champ or Chief. Just beware. They are nice flying airplanes.

Doug

[Mnflyer]

Hi Senior, I have over 400 hrs in Tcrafts and like them great flying airplanes but the visibility is less than many planes and none existent looking fwd while taxing (about the same as the Kitfox) with a good 65 they get off the ground very well cruise is 90 94 mph on landing they just love to float and float about a foot off the ground for ever, great ski planes never flew one on floats, flew a 90 hp one some it was the cats meow in my book. As posted getting in and out is an a learned step but once learned not a big deal, I never thought they were hard to work on but finding parts can now be a challenge and the last big AD's are the struts and strut attach fittings.
Having said all that I like my Champ better I like flying tanden airplanes the vis is so much better and get in and out easier but the Champ is the best for getting in and out of.

[jc pacquin]

Both aircraft are great! The 85 Champ I had was a real joy! Easy to fly and GREAT visibilty! As others have said the BC12D is also a winner. Many like both and this is understandable. I think either one is head and shoulders above a j3 cub, but then, what do I know!? many think they are nice or better. Its good to stay attached to this site as there are very knowledgeable people on here with a wealth of flying and mechanical experience. I would not be flying if I hadn't discovered it. It prompted me to get involved in flying again at 68 years! Thanks!JP