Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Hey guys,

Anyone know of other sources for rudder and flap control cable assemblies? My T-18 project is on a limited budget and I thought others might be as well.

By the time it's shipped here, Aircraft Spruce wants almost $200, going by the plans. They add all kinds of charges, but it's only cable, even if it's aircraft grade, and that part of it is only $.47/ft, it seems kinda ridiculous.

The old addage is "what's your life worth?", so I'd like aircraft quality, but does that mean we get gouged? Maybe it's just the point of the matter. Sorry, it just seems like we're being taken advantage of, and I hoped there would be competition. Please, I'd be glad to hear if anyone has alternatives.

Thanks, Les Krumel
Albuquerque

I had a trusty tail wheel made up a few munths ago. I found a company that does C-195 cables and sent them what I needed, It wasn't that much. I'll see If I can find the bill and post the name of the company that did my cables.

I kind of agree with you, shipping is shipping and the item will determine shipping cost. As for the handling charges. What's the difference of you walking into the store, the salesman looks up your part, retrives the part, delivers it to you, rings it up and you pay for it. You are not charged a handling fee, it's incorporated in the sales price. Now you call him on the phone, he goes through the same motions, puts it in a box and mails it. Handling fees apply??

Shipping and handling is just the way it is, but you pay for each swage plus a set up fee on top (I guess to cut it to length). It adds up to almost $200 - simple gouging.

Control cable swages and SS cable studs up to 3/16 dia. can be swaged by hand. Look in the Aircraft Tool Supply catalog for the tools. There is an economy tool I have that has fixed many swages on F-16 panel cables. Would do a great job on the couple of cables we need done.

I believe that the kind of swages we are talking about use a roll type tool (for AN or MS terminals), not the simple nicopress sleeve swaging tool. A "cheap" hand-operated tool of this type, with only one size die for instance, is over $4,000.00 from ATS. Not exactly cheap.

John Evens N71JE
Arvada, CO

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John Evens
Arvada, Colorado
T-18 N71JE (sold)
Kitfox 7 SS N27JE

when they make a new cable they also test the cable,to make sure it wont fail.The roll type swagers are the best the load is applied
to the whole cable,not just the pressed in section. JP