Teal owners and pilots agree that the
few weak points of the original
Teals are the lack of engine power and speed, high stalling speed and the 'conventional'
(tail wheel) landing gear.
Considering
the low number of Teals built (38), there are still a number of 'one of a kind'
modifications and conversions that have been installed on Teals. This section will try to describe all known Teal
modifications and conversions.
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Aeromarine Upgrades
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Model of Aeromarine Upgrades - Tricyle
Photo: © IAC
International Aeromarine Corporation of Fairhope,
Alabama, have under research and development several sophisticated
modifications and upgrades for the Teal amphibians.
Modifications under development include; tricycle landing gear,
streamlined engine pylon, new wing tips, pods for aerodynamic
streamlining of retracted main landing gear, strakes, etc.
The two Aeromarine prototypes have been moved from
Canada to Pennsylvania for final assembly, certification and flight
testing, now (June 2008) estimated to start in about two months with
the FAA being the wild card.
Two upgraded Teals, one featuring tricyle (Teal #
22) landing gear and one (Teal # 13) with conventional 'taildragger'
landing gear are expected to fly during 2008.
The idea is to convey an aircraft that can cruise
long range low and slow at 4 GPH or high and fast - 200 MPH @ FL200.
More information is expected soon.
Model of Aeromarine Upgrades - Conventional
Photo: © IAC
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Teal Engine
Conversions
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The original engine
installation on all model Teals was a 150 hp Lycoming O-320-A3B four cylinder engine,
driving a two-bladed constant speed propellor. Due to the thick wing
section and other parasite drag, the Teal will never be a speed queen. However,
a few Teals have already had a more powerful engine installed.
Engine and engine pylon on Teal C-GDQC (s/n 22)
Photo: © Ted Dirstein
The first Teal to have a more powerful engine installed
was probably Teal C-GDQC (s/n 22). Owner
Tom Martindale installed a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine in the late
1980ies, on a new engine pylon originally designed by Dave Thurston for
the TSC-2 Patchen Explorer - a surveillance landplane version of the Teal.
The Teals currently under refurbishment at Lake
Central Air Services in Canada will have a choice between three
different Lycoming engine models.
| Lycoming
Model |
O-320-A3B |
O-320-B3B |
O-360-A1H6 |
| Type
Certificate No: |
E-274 |
E-274 |
E-286 |
| Power |
150
hp @ 2700 rpm |
160
hp @ 2700 rpm |
180
hp @ 2700 rpm |
| Cylinders |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| Displacement |
319.8
cu in |
319.8
cu in |
361
cu in |
| Bore |
5.125
in |
5.125
in |
5.125
in |
| Stroke |
3.875
in |
3.875
in |
4.375
in |
| Compression
ratio |
7.00:1 |
8.50:1 |
8.50:1 |
| Weight |
244
lbs |
250
lbs |
298
lbs |
| Ignition |
TCM
S4LN21; S4LN20 Dual Magnetos |
TCM
S4LN21; S4LN20 Dual Magnetos |
Slick4230;
4202 Dual Magnetos |
| Timing |
25º
BTC |
25º
BTC |
25º
BTC |
| Carburetor |
Marvel-Schebler
MA-4SPA |
PAC
HA-6 |
PAC
HA-6 |
| Fuel
Grade (min.) |
80/87LL |
100/100LL |
100/100LL |
| Oils
Sump Cap. |
8
qts |
8
qts |
8
qts |
| Propeller
Shaft |
SAE
AS-127 Type 2 Mod. |
SAE
AS-127 Type 2 Mod. |
SAE
AS-127 Type 2 Mod. |
| Teal
Serial Nos: |
All |
19 |
34,
36 |
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Teal Airframe Modifications
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Tri-cycle Landing Gear
Operating a Teal on land on its original conventional
'tail-dragger' landing gear will be one of the biggest challenges for a
Teal pilot, at least in crosswinds. The tail-dragger configuration
will have its advantages when beaching or when taxiing in and out of water
from ramps. However, many Teal owners would undoubtedly prefer a
tri-cycle landing gear for their normal Teal operations.
Tri-cycle landing gear on Teal C-GDQC (s/n 22)
Photo: © Ted Dirstein
During the 1980ies Dave Thurston designed a tri-cycle
landing gear for the Teal. Plans were made to offer the tri-cycle
landing gear as a retrofit for Teals under the TSC-1A1T/-1A2T
designation. However, the tri-cycle landing gear has so far been
installed on only one aircraft; C-GDQC (s/n 22) by Tom Martindale.
The tri-cycle landing gear has not been approved or STC'ed yet (to the
webmaster's knowledge). It is not confirmed that this configuration
has been flight tested.
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Gull-wing Cabin Doors
Tom Martindale also installed some very attractive
gull-wing cabin doors on C-GDQC. However, these doors have not been
approved by Teal designer Dave Thurston. It is believed that it
could be difficult to have these doors approved - due to the proximity to
the propeller arc.
Gull-wing door on Teal C-GDQC (s/n 22)
Photo: © Ted Dirstein
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Four-seat Interior
Moving the main gear into the tri-cycle position leave
more room in the cabin. On C-GDQC Tom Martindale installed a rear
bench seat allowing two 'small' passengers.
Four-seat interior on Teal C-GDQC (s/n 22)
Photo: © Ted Dirstein
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Extended Wings and Tailplane
When under manufacture at Schweizer, the Model TSC-1A2
with wing flaps was introduced to reduce T-O/landing and stalling
speed. This was done after one of the Schweizer's had a
take-off accident on water with a TSC-1A1 Teal (non-flap) in heavy waves.
Extended tailplane and new rudder on Teal C-GDQC (s/n
22)
Photo: © Ted Dirstein
Dave Thurston always thought the best and most
economical solution would be to increase wing span and tailplane span
only, but the direction at Schweizer insisted on flaps. Some years
later Dave Thurston designed extended wings and tailplane for a few Teals
modified to TSC-1A1/EW (Extended Wings)
configuration by Tom Martindale in Canada. Wing span is increased by
4 ft, tailplane span by 2 ft. Modified aircraft included s/nos 1 and
15. LCAS are currently installing EWs on s/n 3.
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