Photograph:
Taylorcraft F-21B VH-OSF (c/n F1508) at Bankstown, NSW in 1989 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light touring monoplane
Power Plant:
One 88 kw (118 hp) Avco Lycoming O-235-L2C four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft)
- Length: 6.78 m (22 ft 2¼ in)
- Height: 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 17.07 m² (183.71 sq ft)
- Max speed: 201 km/h (125 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power at 2,440 m (8,000 ft): 190 km/h (118 mph)
- Stalling speed: 78 km/h (48 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 229 m/min (750ft/min)
- Range at 75% power with 30 mins reserve: 1,178 km (732 miles)
- Empty weight: 465 kg (1,025 lb)
- Loaded weight: 794 kg (1,750 lb)
History:
The F-21B was a new production aircraft produced by a company called Taylorcraft in the USA and was a development of the Taylorcraft series of aircraft produced in the 1930s and 1940s. The Company was formed to produce a revised and updated version of the old type using 1980s technology in some areas, but still having the popular ‘rag and tube’ style, ie tubular metal construction with fabric covering.
Aimed at the market for a cheap utility or private aircraft in the rugged style of the Maule, etc, the F-21 series was produced in three basic models. The first was the F-21 with an 86 kw (115 hp) Avco Lycoming O-235-L2C engine, followed by the F-21A, introduced in 1985, and the F-21B, the latter having some modifications to the structure to permit an increase in the maximum take-off weight, the installation of a 75 litre (17 Imp gal) tank in each wing, and the deletion of the fuselage fuel tank. In the F-21B the baggage compartment was to the rear of the seats and standard capacity was 33 kg (72 lb). A further model, known as the F-22, appeared in 1985, this differing from the F-21B in having wing flaps, which reduced the stalling speed by 8 km/h (5 mph), and offering the choice of a tailwheel or tricycle undercarriage. Aqua Model 1500 floats were optional.
In November 1989 the Company was taken over by Aircraft Acquisition Corp in Pennsylvania, and this company offered a number of models. In the 1990s Taylor Kits of West Virginia marketed a version of the Model F-21B suitable for home assembly from pre-manufactured components.
The first of the type to be seen in this area arrived in late 1986 at Perth’s Jandakot Airport, WA with the US registration N4417F, becoming VH-OSF (c/n F1508). It was rumoured at one stage that a number of these aircraft would be obtained by the Western Australian Forestry Commission to replace its Piper Super Cubs on patrol work, but this did not eventuate.