Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Guys....question

I have looked through the forum and photos but still have a question about my instrument panel and radio space. I see most nav/coms and transponders are mounted across the bottom ledge of the panel. Can the panel be extended in any way to handle a center stack nav/com and transponder? I have an older T-18 (A-model?) I assume the problem is the clearance between panel and fuel tank?

Here is a photo/ mock-up of the panel I would like to build. I know it is not the exact dimensions of the T-18 panel but it was the closest thing I could find in my panel planner software. When the time comes I will draw out a proper CAD file for the actual dimensions.

Thanks,

Tim A.



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The older radios/transponders were mounted below the panel due to the length of the units. I have seen a couple of these installations and it appears to take up valuable leg/knee room. I installed the MicroAir radio and transponder package. It also came with the intercomm and AmeriKing encoder. All the units came with a prewired harness...made hookup very simple. Plug and play. I paid (several years ago) $2,800 for the entire set-up, free shipping and no tax. The units have about 5 hours of airborne use and work great. The radio and transponder fit in the dash and are about as long as a standard altimeter/ADI. I also installed the encoder behind the dash, with access to the "adjustment pots." The combined weight of all the units installed weighs less than one of the older "slide in" units.

There are a couple of other manuf. that make similar units, like Becker, etc.
Depending where the current panel is mounted, it may be possible to move it foward a bit to make space ?

RB

Most of the Harmon units will fit as well. It's either that or put a notch in the tank. From the looks of your planned layout you should be fine, the clearance is tightest at the top, down low most older trays will fit.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Oops replace "Harmon" with "Garmin"

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Rich,

I am familiar with the Becker and Microair units. I have used these before. In this installation I was trying to reuse the larger and older units that are now mounted across the bottom ledge of the panel. I will be manufacturing a new panel so I will look at the spacing and where I can possibly get a few more inches. You cannot tell but the radio stack on the drawing above protrudes out from the panel to make some extra space. Thanks for the help.

Tim A.

Dick Wollf's panel has (I believe) a one or two inch (or sumpin like dat) extension aft allowing most radios to fit in the mid to lower locations of the panel without the bend. I actually liked it over the bent panel.

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Hi Tim - I tired to insert a photo of the panel that Fraser was talking about, but no joy. You'll find it in my album.

Owner number two built this new panel over top of the old one. He cut out the old panel face and spaced the new plate about an inch off the old one. Under the main panel is a generous bent flange for rigidity.

Measuring from the the windshield center-post (top to the head of the bolt) to the new panel, I get about 7 1/4". The longest tray in the stack is the bottom one. It's about 12" long and there is an inch or so space to the tank.

If you want to avoid a rats nest, build your wiring harnesses on a plywood mock up and transfer the wire at the end.

DW

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In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.

Picture inserted Dick.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Thanks guys.

Tim A.

Center panels do look nice and add more gauge area. When I find myself crawling under the dash I sure am glad mine is more open. Even at that it is a challenge to reach some of the areas. At some point I need to redo my 30 year old dash pulling out the Loran and maybe add an EFIS. Still would keep the steam gauges for backup. I posted a picture in my main album and in it's day it was a great setup. Still works great which is why I am in no big hurry to replace it.

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Pat
N89SB
T-18W