Taylor Coot

The Taylor Coot is a two-seat homebuilt amphibious aircraft designed by Moulton Taylor, famous for his flying car designs. When a market for the Aerocar did not emerge, Taylor turned to more conventional designs. The Coot was nonetheless somewhat unusual for its low wing, a feature uncommon on most seaplanes and flying boats, which conventionally strive to keep their wings as far away from the water as possible. Instead, Taylor designed the Coot's wing roots to act as sponsons to stabilise the craft in the water. The arrangement allowed him to do away with the weight and drag penalties imposed by wingtip floats, and additionally gain ground effect benefits during takeoff. First flown in 1969, the Coot proved very popular with homebuilders, with an estimated 70 aircraft completed by 2007.

Coot
Role Civil utility amphibian
Manufacturer Richard Steeves
Designer Moulton Taylor
First flight 1969
Status Plans available (2015)
Number built 70
Unit cost
$3500 in 1970[1]

The wings and elevator surfaces of the Taylor Coot can be folded for transport and storage. With wings folded the aircraft is 8 feet (2.4 m) wide. Some builders have equipped their aircraft with auxiliary sponsons. It is equipped with tricycle landing gear: The nosewheel casters freely and steering on the ground is accomplished with differential braking of the main gear.

The plans and three books about the Coot are available through Richard Steeves of Madison, Wisconsin.[2]

Variants
Coot model A
Single-tailed version.
Coot model B
Two-tailed model
Coot A in the North Carolina Transportation Museum

Specifications (Super Coot Model A, 180 hp Franklin engine)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m)
  • Wing area: 180 sq ft (16.7 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,950 lb (884 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Franklin air-cooled flat-six, 180 hp (134 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 mph (209 km/h, 113 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 110 mph (177 km/h, 95.5 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 139 mph (223 km/h, 120 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 1,250 ft/min (6.4 m/s)
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See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. "All these planes you can build from plans". Popular Science: 99. June 1970.
  2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 123. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. Taylor 1982, p. 524.
  • John W. R. Taylor. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
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