Taylorcraft Model A
| Taylorcraft Model A | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Light aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
April 1935 |
| Production time: |
1937 to 1938 |
| Number of pieces: |
606 |
The Taylorcraft Model A is a light aircraft made by the US manufacturer Taylorcraft Aviation in the 1930s.
history
After the sale of his shares in the Taylor Aircraft Company to William T. Piper , Gilbert Taylor founded his own company again in 1935 with the Taylorcraft Aviation Company. The first model of the new company was the Taylorcraft Model A , the first copies of which were built in Butler, Pennsylvania . For series production, the city of Alliance (Ohio) offered the old, vacant Alliance plant rent-free, in which Alliance Aircraft Corp had manufactured the Argo until 1930 .
The Model A prototype first flew in April 1935. The type certificate (ATC 643) was issued in June 1937, after which the order book quickly reached 250 machines. However, in order to be able to start series production in Alliance, Taylor needed further capital, which eventually brought in William C. Young. This resulted in another renaming of the company to Taylor-Young Airplane Company, so that the machine is also referred to as Taylor-Young Model A in the literature . Young took on the role of Vice President and General Manager. At the end of 1937 the 200 employees were able to produce 15 machines a week; total production that year was 356 copies. In mid-1938, when production was switched to the successor model B , production of the Model A ended after a total of 606 machines.
construction
As with all pre-war Taylor designs, the fuselage structure consisted of fabric-covered welded steel tubes. The use of a NACA-23012 airfoil and the return to side-by-side seats were the main differences from the previous Taylor J-2 . Entry was via a door on the right. The 10 gallon (37.8 L) tank was located in front of the cabin.
The braced wings had spruce spars and metal ribs. The front edges were covered with metal, while the remaining areas were covered with fabric. The ailerons also had this design. The chassis had a split axle as well as rubber band suspension and damping. The standard grinding spur could be exchanged for a star wheel. Other equipment options included the use of Edo floats or runners, navigation lights, carburetor heating, brakes, radio, dual ignition and an additional left door.
The drive consisted of a 40 PS Continental A-40 -4 boxer engine, which allowed a theoretical top speed of 145 km / h.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | 1 |
| length | 6.71 m |
| span | 10.98 m |
| height | 2.03 m |
| Wing area | 15.61 m² |
| Takeoff mass | 477 kg |
| Top speed | 145 km / h |
| Climb performance | 130 m / min |
| Service ceiling | 4270 m |
| Range | 380 km |
| Engines | a Continental four-cylinder A-40, 4-boxer engine with 40 hp |
See also
literature
- Taylorcraft - A Complex Classic . In: AIR Enthusiast Forty-Five, March to May 1992, pp. 52-55
