PlaneFox tracks 1 Taylorcraft BC-12D aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A Taylorcraft BC-12D flies about 375 nm, roughly 694 km, which is about 4 h 31 min in still air at typical cruise.
A Taylorcraft BC-12D costs about EUR 1,082 a month to run, or about EUR 107 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
The Taylorcraft BC-12D is a two-seat, high-wing, fabric-covered tailwheel aircraft built by Taylorcraft Aviation after the Second World War. The Model B family first appeared before the war, while the BC-12D was produced mainly from 1946 into the late 1940s as a light personal and training aircraft. It matters to buyers because it represents a simple, economical classic with side-by-side seating, gentle handling and eligibility for many vintage, recreational and Sport Pilot use cases, depending on the individual aircraft’s configuration and paperwork.
Typical BC-12D performance is modest by modern standards, which is part of its operating appeal. A representative aircraft cruises at about 70 to 75 knots, with a range commonly around 250 nautical miles, depending on fuel installation, loading and power setting. The service ceiling is commonly listed around 12,000 feet. Standard power is the Continental A-65, a 65 hp, four-cylinder, air-cooled engine. The aircraft’s gross weight is 1,200 lb, and useful load varies meaningfully with empty weight, equipment, fabric system, paint and engine installation, so individual weight and balance records are especially important.
The BC-12D has a compact side-by-side cabin with two seats, dual controls on many examples and excellent visibility through the high-wing layout. Entry, shoulder room and baggage capacity are limited compared with later trainers, and the airplane is best understood as a light classic rather than a touring machine. Original aircraft had minimal instrumentation and no modern avionics. Used examples typically carry a basic VFR panel, often with a handheld or panel-mounted radio, transponder, intercom and sometimes ADS-B Out. Glass cockpit systems such as Garmin Perspective or G1000 are not typical or appropriate for this model.
For buyers, condition and documentation usually matter more than equipment. Key inspection areas include the steel-tube fuselage structure, wooden wing components where applicable, fabric age and workmanship, struts, control cables, landing gear alignment, tailwheel condition and evidence of corrosion or poor repairs. Engine logs should be reviewed for Continental A-65 time, overhaul quality and parts availability. Common upgrades include electrical systems, improved brakes, radios, ADS-B equipment and approved engine conversions such as 85 hp installations on some aircraft. In the used market, the Taylorcraft BC-12D generally sits among affordable postwar taildraggers, valued for low fuel burn and classic handling rather than speed, payload or IFR capability.