Taylorcraft 15

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]

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]

Design and development

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

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

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

1. Simpson 1995, p.383
2. "Briefing for Dealers & Distributors"
3. Davisson 2001, p.18
4. Simpson 1995, p.384
5. Taylor 1989, p.851
6. Bridgman 1947, p.294-95
7. Davisson 2001, p.17
8. Sargent 2017, p.57
9. Aircraft Inquiry

Bibliography

• "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.