Following my recent post on what I claimed was the Taylor J2 Cub ZK-AGD's delivery to Wanganui, new owner Jonathan Mauchline has been in touch to confirm the the aircraft is in fact one of the earliest J2 Cubs from the Piper factory at Lockhaven in January 1938. The Taylorcraft Aircraft factory at Bradford PA had burned down in 1937 and William T Piper founded the Piper Aircraft Corporation on 1 November 1937 at Lock Haven PA.
Jonathan has now added more appropriate tail art to ZK-AGD as in these photos:
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Jonathan is indeed correct regarding about the somewhat confusing correct designation for ZK-AGD which has probably come about by its construction plate. The story goes that at the time William Piper took over the Taylor company it was in such financial difficulties that accounting for every Cent was imperative and manufacturing new serial number plates was an expense which could be forgone until existing stocks were exhausted thus c/n1152 was build, marketed and sold as a Piper aircraft. The September 2020 issue of NZ Aviation News contains an interesting article detailing the Piper aircraft company's formation.
ReplyDeleteSerial numbers 1150-1153 were built for export so were likely dated in the conventional format
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