The Taylorcraft B is an American light, single-engine,

high-wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...

general aviation General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...

monoplane, with two seats in

side-by-side configuration Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction. The original use of the term in English was in ''tandem harness'', which is used for two ...

, that was built by the Taylorcraft Aviation Corporation of

Alliance, Ohio Alliance is a city in eastern Stark County, Ohio, United States. With a small district lying in adjacent Mahoning County, the city is approximately northeast of Canton, southwest of Youngstown and southeast of Cleveland. The population was 21 ...

.The Pittsburgh Press
Move Stated to Bring Plane Factory Here
July 22, 1947Plane and Pilot: ''1978 Aircraft Directory'', p. 75. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977.

Production and construction

The Model B was constructed in large numbers during the late 1930s and early 1940s and was available for delivery from the factory as a land plane and a

floatplane A floatplane is a type of seaplane with one or more slender floats mounted under the fuselage to provide buoyancy. By contrast, a flying boat uses its fuselage for buoyancy. Either type of seaplane may also have landing gear suitable for land, ...

. Like many light aircraft of its day, the fuselage is constructed of welded steel tubing and covered with doped

aircraft fabric Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...

. The wings are braced using steel-tube

strut A strut is a structural component commonly found in engineering, aeronautics, architecture and anatomy. Struts generally work by resisting longitudinal compression, but they may also serve in tension. Human anatomy Part of the functionality o ...

Operational history

The Model B was mainly bought by private pilot owners. Large numbers were flown in the United States, and many were sold to owners in Canada and several overseas countries, including those in Europe. Many are still active in 2022.

Variants

;BC :1938 - Based on the Model A with a 50 hp Continental A-50-1 engine and modified wing construction, also known as the BC-50 ;BCS :1939 - Seaplane variant of the BC ;BC-65 :1939 - Model BC with a 65 hp Continental A-65-1 engine. ;BCS-65 :1939 - Seaplane variant of the BC-65. ;BC-12-65 (L-2H) :1941 - As BC-65 except for minor structural changes and added elevator trim tab and a Continental A-65-7 engine. ;BCS-12-65 :1941 - Seaplane variant of the BC-12-65 ;BC-12D Twosome :1945 - Postwar production version of the BC-12-65 with a Continental A-65-8 engine with alternate tail surface, alternate one piece window and other minor changes. ;BCS-12D :1946 - Seaplane variant of the BC-12D ;BC-12D1 :1946 - As the BC-12-D with left hand door, parking brake and right-hand wing tank removed ;BCS-12D1 :1946 - Seaplane variant of the BC-12D1

;BC-12D-85 Sportsman :1948 - A BC-12D fitted with an 85 hp Continental C85-8F engine and increased power and gross weight. ;BCS-12D-85 :1948 - Seaplane variant of the BC-12D-85. ;BC-12D-4-85 :1949 - A BC-12D-85 fitted with an extra rear side window and a Continental C85-12F engine. ;BCS-12D-4-85 :1949 - Seaplane variant of the BC-12D-4-85. ;Model 19 Sportsman :1951 - Development of the BC-12D-4-85, still with Continental C85-12F engine but with gross weight increased to 1500 lb. Revived in 1973 by the reformed Taylorcraft as the F-19 Sportsman with 100 hp

Continental O-200 The Continental C90 and O-200 are a family of air-cooled, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, direct-drive aircraft engines of 201 in³ (3.29 L) displacement, producing between 90 and 100 horsepower (67 and 75 kW).''Federal Aviation Admini ...

engine. ;BF (L-2G) :1938 - 40 hp Franklin 4AC-150 engine. ;BFS :1939 - Seaplane variant of the BF. ;BF-60 :1939 - As BF with a 60 hp Franklin 4AC-171 engine. ;BFS-60 :1939 - Seaplane variant of the BF-60. ;BF-65 :1941 - A BF with a 65 hp Franklin 4AC-176-B2 engine, also known as the BF-12-65 (L-2K). ;BFS-65 :1941 - Seaplane variant of the BF-65 ;BL :1938 - with a 50 hp Lycoming O-145-A1 engine, also known as the BL-50 ;BLS :1939 - Seaplane variant of the BL. TaylorcraftBL65

;BL-65 (L-2F) :1939 - A BL with a 65 hp Lycoming O-145-B1 engine. ;BLS-65 :1939 - Seaplane variant of the BL-65. ;BL-12-65 (L-2J) :1941 - A BL-65 with a Lycoming O-145-B1 engine and minor structural changes and added elevator trim. ;BLS-12-65 :1941 - Seaplane variant of the BL-12-65.

Notable accidents and incidents

*November 24, 2021 – American YouTuber Trevor Jacob parachuted out of his BL-65 while piloting it. The

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...

deemed his actions intentional and reckless and revoked his pilot certificate.

Specifications (Taylorcraft 19)

Notes and references

External links

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