0903 Taylor Titch

progressed on my remaining project, scheme and a finish to match.
Grade
several minor changes were made. A cotton andnon-taughteningbutrate
COVER STORY The landing gear was fabricated from dope were used, topped off with a
round titanium rod, and the wing spar three-tone alkyd enamel color coat
was made in one piece to save the 14 after many, many hours in the gar-
The Taylor Titch pounds of steel in the original wing
joint. The flap mechanism was
age wearing off the bumps with sand-
paper.
Ultimate In Wood strengthened and all radio antennas
were buried within the vertical fin
The big day finally arrived Jan-
uary 9, 1972. T.W.A. Captain Bud
and the left wing which illustrates a Wielt consented to test fly the air-
major advantage of wood structure. plane and with a feeling of indescrib-
The most difficult problem was the able pleasure, I watched 7 years of ef-
canopy. I wanted to maintain the fort lift off in 400 feet and climb like
original shape but couldn't find a a homesick angel.
ready formed piece of plastic that After a few maneuvers, Bud
even approached the necessary brought it back down and pronounced
By Jim L. Miller (EAA 6110) dimensions. it the sweetest little airplane he had
4733 Harvard The decision was made to fabricate ever flown.
Kansas City, Mo. 64133 the canopy. An oven was quickly There were still 6 months before
made from an old electric stove in the Oshkosh to fly off the test time and
Ithe'VETaylor
BEEN ASKED why I chose
Titch The answer is
best EAA tradition Total cost
was only $8.00 and one day's work.
we set out to do this at an easy pace,
but in May, 1972, fate jumped in with
simple. I wanted a machine that had (That was the easy part). Eleven a near disaster engine failure from
the performance of a midget racer, the months and ten expensive sheets of carburetor problems while turning fi-
lean muscular look of a thoroughbred plastic later, I had finally learned to nal for landing! A plowed field
race horse, and the individuality of a handle the tricky stuff and had a sat- promptly became the supreme testing
Rolls Royce. The Titch has it all. isfactory shape. Several more months ground for the airplane's structural in-
I first saw a drawing of the Titch in designing and fabricating the tegrity. It flipped over, breaking prop,
among the entrants in the 1965 Eng- mounting linkage and the canopy was cowling, wheel pants, and canopy
lish Rollison Racer competition. The finally a reality. not to mention my feelings! But the
construction sitka spruce and ply- The engi ne a chromed C-85-12 shoulder straps held and only a couple
wood was just like the models I was hung on the fuselage and a male of scratches were found on me.
used to build as a youngster. mold was fabricated around it from Back at the hangar, a careful in-
Inquiry brought out that plans were Styrofoam blocks, hot melt glue, and spection revealed no structural dam-
only $35.00 so I talked several ready-mixed wall board joint cement. age and it still looked possible to make
fellows in the Kansas City area into a The complete cowl was laid up in one
group project four Taylor Titches piece on this mold using polyester
on a midget assembly line. resin and three to five layers of glass (Photo by Don Pratt)
Two machines were actually started cloth. The "ultimate in wood" says a justi-
in August of 1965 but it wasn't too The machine now began to realize
fiably proud Jim Miller of his beauti-
long before the second builder left its inherent good looks and every ful Taylor Titch.
town for a new job. As construction effort was made to contrive a paint
(Photo by George Reynolds)
Jim Miller's Titch has a very distinc- (Photo by Jim Miller)
tive and tasteful paint scheme. This This shot taken in 1969 shows how
picture shows why. By constructing close Jim came to making a Rockford
a model, a builder can try out various Fly-In.
paint schemes and color combina-
tions and have the opportunity to
critically view his work from all
angles. Some paint schemes look
good from a side angle, but are awk-
ward viewed from others. Miller's
Titch looks great from any vantage
point.
(Photo by Jim Miller)

The familiar pause that refreshes
the homebuilders spirit and deter-
mination to make such "stick time"
a reality.
(Photo by Winston Golitz)
Finally! a good canopy after many
tries. At Oshkosh 73 Jim Miller held
daily workshops on the technique of
forming canopies sharing his hard
won and expensive experience with
fellow EAAers.

The Titch was looking like an air-
plane when this picture was taken in
November of 1968, but a lot of work
remained. Features of the all-wood
Jim Miller and the cowling for his
construction are obvious here.
Titch.
20 MARCH 1974
(Photo by Don Pratt)
Jim Miller's Taylor Titch, winner of and away we went! We got halfway a total pleasure to fly, living up to or
the Mechanics' Illustrated Award for to Oshkosh before the weather closed exceeding all my hopes and expecta-
Outstanding Workmanship at Osh- in again and grounded us for the rest tions. Performance of this example is
kosh 72 and many other top awards of the day. Thursday morning it was as follows: Take off run 300-400 ft.,
at fly-ins around the mid-west since raining but visibility was better and R of C 1800 - 2000 Ft/min., top
that time. we set off, breaking out into beauti- speed 190 mph, cruise 175 mph
ful sunshine only a few miles from at 2600 rpm, stall 60 mph at alti-
Oshkosh. Seven mad weeks later, it Oshkosh. tude and less than 40 mph in ground
was back in the air with only 10 hours We were just in time for the judg- effect, Empty wt. 562 lbs. Control
left in the test area. This was flown ing and the Titch took several awards, pressures are well balanced and all
off in a week and plans were made including the Mechanics Illustrated aerobatic maneuvers compatible with
to go to Oshkosh. Award for Outstanding Work- the standard fuel and oil system are
We scheduled the trip for Tuesday manship. easily accomplished.
which dawned with rain and fog down The Titch has since been a con- Is wood an "old fashioned" struc-
on the deck. Wednesday was not much sistent trophy winner at regional fly- ture? Not on your life! For a per-
better but by noon, it was barely VFR ins as well as at Oshkosh. It has been sonal airplane this is the ultimate!
SPORT AVIATION 21

0903 Taylor Titch

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progressed on my remaining project, scheme and a finish to match.

(Photo by Jim Miller)

(Photo by George Reynolds)

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