1946 Taylorcraft BC-12

The Taylorcraft airplane started its history as part of Piper Aircraft. Originally C. Gilbert Taylor was in business with Mr. Piper until there was a “split” and Mr. Taylor opened the first Taylor Aircraft Factory in Alliance Ohio, with the first aircraft produced in 1939-40. The BC-12 was introduced in 1941 but saw short production due to the start of WWII. After the war, production resumed with an updated version. The aircraft is a tube-and-fabric, side-by-side airplane powered by a Continental 65 hp engine. Even though it was side-by-side and provided a larger cross-section to wind resistance, it could out distance the similar Piper J3 by better than 20 miles in an hour. Production of the BC-12 continued through 1950. 

This aircraft was donated to the Iowa Aviation Museum by the Livingston family. Aden “Bite” Livingston and John Livingston are both members of the Iowa Aviation Museum Hall of Fame. They were important in the development of aviation in Iowa. In 1970, Aden “Bite” Livingston purchased the Taylorcraft from another Iowan, Johnnie Fitzpatrick, who instructed pilots and managed the airport at Eagle Grove.