Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Sad news...

http://kathrynaviationnews.com/?p=13375

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Scott Hinton
Elizabeth City, NC
N78WG

My deepest condolences!

Bill Will be missed.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

He certainly will, a sad day for the Thorp family.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

What a fine person, and a real gentleman. Last saw him, as I usually did, at Oshkosh. He sure will be missed.

John Evens N71JE
Arvada, CO

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

I tell you what, this one hits our community hard. We've had way too many accidents of late. Bill was a great guy. I was thinking at OSH that his plane never looked better. I told him that and he shrugged it off, like usual. Lets concentrate on establishing a better safety record fellas. When in doubt, go around!

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Cubes
831GR
Las Vegas

I hopped a ride with Bill to the fish fry from KyDam in 2009 and was very impressed with his conversion to nose gear. On the way down we chatted about his nose gear change over and how the guys razed him about it. His Thorp flew and handled very well and he was a good pilot. This is a major loss and we will miss him.

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Stephen R. Peirce
S/N#078 Ph 256-461-0233
Rocket City
Huntsville, Alabama

I agree with the go around policy. Even airline pilots have to do the dreaded maneuver once in a while, but sure beats explaining to the Chief Pilot why you landed long (or short) and ran off the paved surface and became an ATV !

Being retired I certainly have no excuse for not going around if the picture doesn't look right...I have the time. An extra $5.00 worth of fuel for the go around is cheap insurance.

RB

it might not be as simple as adding power and going around. possibly his approach angle looked good or adequate and he got in the down wash from the plane in front of him that he didn't anticipate and that added to his sink rate. Even following small GA aircraft, I've experienced some stiff vortices.

*** admin posted for Jeffrey Rose ***

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Forum Administrator

You're absolutely right ! I was not there and other factors certainly could have been a player, I was just pointing out as Cubes suggested, that a go-around should always be part of your landing strategy to keep the buttered buns warm and not burnt.

RB

Final Approach, for me the most critical part of any flight. Rich is right $5.00 in gas and 10 mins. is worth alot.
One Sat. there was a flyin breakfast 90 miles north of our home field, we had a flight of 5 aircraft. We called in downwind, base and turning final. On short final a twin taxied out onto the runway and started his take off roll. We side steped to the right and looked into this guys cockpit. Starbuck did not have a clue, he was not monitoring his radio, he was consentrating on getting his FTL engines spun up to make the jump to light speed. Our flight of 5 had good sepration and the other 4 were able to land with no problems. We continued our go around got back on down wind and had a good breakfast and conversation about the guy in the twin with his head up and locked.

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Stephen R. Peirce
S/N#078 Ph 256-461-0233
Rocket City
Huntsville, Alabama

Outstanding BSG references there Steve!

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

As I saw nothing on Bill's obituary, I took the liberty of posting condolences on behalf of all of us who have met and/or knew Bill in the T-18 community on the funeral home website. I hope you guys who knew him better/longer than I don't mind.

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

That was good of you... thanks Frase.

John Evens N71JE
Arvada, CO

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