The Taylor Bird is a homebuilt aircraft that was designed by C. G. Taylor, the designer of the Taylor Cub.[1]

Taylor Bird
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Designer C. G. Taylor

Design and development

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The part-built Taylor Bird was presented at the 1977 EAA airshow. The aircraft is a tandem seat, mid-wing pusher configuration design, with conventional landing gear. The fuselage is built with aluminum stressed skin. The aircraft features a unique entryway, mounting the entire nose and windshield on sliding rails that moves forward, allowing access to the cabin. The wingtips are slotted and wings are foldable.[2] The engine features a custom propeller speed reduction unit that remained in limited production after Taylor production ceased.[3] The prototype first flew on July 17, 1979.[4]

Specifications (Taylor Bird)

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Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1980–81[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
  • Wingspan: 26 ft 0 in (7.92 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
  • Airfoil: NACA 23015
  • Empty weight: 560 lb (254 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Subaru with 2:1 gear reduction[1] 1400cc water-cooled horizontally opposed piston automotive conversion, 65 hp (48 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 109 kn (125 mph, 202 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 100 kn (120 mph, 190 km/h)
  • Endurance: 4 hr

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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  1. ^ a b Barnett Flight International August 20, 1977, p. 535
  2. ^ Barnett Flight International August 20, 1977, pp. 535–536
  3. ^ "Wayne Sprigle's Mite-T-Mustang". Experimenter. March 2009.
  4. ^ a b Taylor 1980, p. 552