The Taylorcraft 15, which entered production as the 15A Tourist was an American-built general-purpose high-wing monoplane of the 1950s.[4][5] It was a four-seat development of the two-seat Taylorcraft BC, fitted with a more powerful engine.[1]

Model 15
Role General purpose monoplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Taylorcraft
First flight November 1, 1944[1]
Introduction 1950[2]
Number built 25 Model 15/15A[3] + 1 Model 16[1]

Design and development

edit

The Model 15 is a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane of conventional configuration with an enclosed cabin and fixed tailwheel undercarriage.[6] Seating is 2+2 style, and the cabin is equipped with dual controls.[6] Power was originally supplied by a 125-hp (93.3-kW) Lycoming O-290 engine,[7] mounted tractor-fashion and driving a two-bladed wooden propeller.[6] The fuselage and tail are built from welded steel tube, covered in fabric.[6] The wing is of mixed wood and metal construction, also covered in fabric.[6] Long V-struts brace the wings to the lower longeron of the fuselage.[6] The wing is equipped with manually-operated flaps and fixed, leading-edge slots.[6]

The Model 15 was designed in 1943–44, perhaps with the input of Taylorcraft founder C. G. Taylor.[7] The prototype, registered NX36320, first flew on November 1, 1944.[1] During testing, the Lycoming engine proved insufficiently powerful,[7] and it was replaced with a Franklin 6A4-150-B3 of 150 hp (120 kW).[1][6][7]

Plans to put the aircraft into production were stopped by a 1946 fire at the Taylorcraft factory at Alliance, Ohio that destroyed jigs, dies, and fixtures that were prepared for its manufacture.[6] Shortly thereafter, the company was forced into bankruptcy.[6][7] The prototype Model 15 was purchased along with the rest of the company assets by Ben Mauro, who by 1949 was able to relocate it to a new factory at Conway, Pennsylvania.[7][8] He re-commenced production of the Model B family, and put the Model 15 into production.[1] However, sales of general aviation aircraft in the 1950s were slow, and fewer than 30 examples were built before Taylorcraft had to cease operations again.[1]


Variants

edit
Model 15
Prototype, NX36320, 1 built 1944[1]
Model 15A
Production version, 24 built[3]
Model 16
Experimental development, NX40070, 1 built,[1] 1946[9]

Specifications

edit

Data from Bridgman 1947, p.294-95

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 24 ft 1 in (7.34 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 5 in (11.10 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
  • Wing area: 207 sq ft (19.2 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,650 lb (748 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,450 lb (1,111 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Franklin 6A4 6-cylinder, air-cooled, horizontally-opposed piston, 150 hp (110 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn)
  • Range: 575 mi (925 km, 500 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
  • Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s) (initial)
  • Wing loading: 11.8 lb/sq ft (58 kg/m2)


References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson 1995, p.383
  2. ^ "Briefing for Dealers & Distributors"
  3. ^ a b Davisson 2001, p.18
  4. ^ Simpson 1995, p.384
  5. ^ Taylor 1989, p.851
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bridgman 1947, p.294-95
  7. ^ a b c d e f Davisson 2001, p.17
  8. ^ Sargent 2017, p.57
  9. ^ Aircraft Inquiry

Bibliography

edit
  • "Aircraft Inquiry". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1947). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1947. London: Sampson Low, Marston.
  • "Briefing for Dealers & Distributors". Aviation. Albany, New York: McGraw-Hill. 17 October 1949. p. 48.
  • Davisson, Budd (April 2001). "Unknown Taylorcraft". Vintage Aircraft. Oshkosh, Wisconsin: Experimental Aircraft Association. pp. 14–18.
  • Sargent, Sparky Barnes (August 2017). "The Newells' Jewel". Vintage Aircraft. Oshkosh, Wisconsin: Experimental Aircraft Association. pp. 52–58.
  • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.