Thorp Air Command - T18.net

My T-18 is flying again

I have the joy and frustration of operating out of a short grass strip (3000 27-09 and 2500 35-17). While I work on my short field technique and slow down a bit (currently approaching at 75 kts and 70 over the fence) I believe the biggest help would be more flap.
I am limited to 30 degrees like most but wonder if anyone out there is using 40? If so, do you save that last 10 degrees for 80 kts and slower or ???

Any thoughts would be appreciated. (maybe 35 degrees?!)

Tim,
Speeds look good, that's what I'm using. My strip is 3000' asphalt with trees at both ends, I make the center turn off most of the time. I would not use more flaps than 30 due to the "bunt" that occurs with 40 at slow speed. If the "bunt" happens at low altitude it can ruin your whole day. You can search the newsletters for more info on this phenomenon.

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Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA

Bruce, I am getting used to the a/c after being grounded for 3 years and hope my proficiency improves with practice. Wondering though, out loud, if 40 degrees is defacto BAD and 30 is OK, is 33 or 35 (10% and nearly 15% more angle) possibly alright. Has anyone out there explored the region between 30 and 40 to see if we could creep a little closer to 40 without getting into trouble?

Tim,
I do not recommend more than 30 flaps. When i bought my current Thorp, i had not read the newsletters. I used 40 flaps for a bit. It bit me hard one day. I do not think you will improve your stopping margin at all. However, i was able to shorten my landing roll by dumping off the flaps, improving my braking. Call me if you want to hear more of flaps 40 flying.
702 232 4261


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Forum Administrator

Tim,
Most of my landings are made with one notch of flaps (15 deg), all that more flaps does is steepen the descent angle, I still land at the same speed. Slips work just as well or better for me to get down in a hurry. When I first started flying my Thorp I approached at 90mph (79kts) and would use 3/4 of the runway, as I have gained proficiency and comfort level with the aircraft I'm more consistent, 85mph (74kts) approach and use 1/2 of the runway unless I haven't flown in a while then all bets are off until I get a couple of landings in.

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Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA

(I have electric flaps) I use what I believe would be equal to one notch (I throw the stick to the far right then match the angle) for take-off, looks to be about 15 degrees. I was thinking that throwing the boards out to 40 would give a lot more drag so I could crawl in a little slower with power. I will spend some time getting to know the airplane. Thanks for the insight.

Speaking of electric flaps...Mr. Fraser your's were mighty fast when I saw them at VIS. Extension time looked to be about 3 seconds ? 30 degrees fully extended ?

RB

A power off approach with 20 or 30 degrees will be shorter than coming in with power and 40 degrees. I operate from 2500' grass as well.

I can extend mine in less than 3 seconds, or 3 minutes if I want to... they're connected to a handle to the right of my legs. I also know exactly how many degrees they are deployed to, at any time! [;)]

John Evens N71JE
Arvada, CO


"Speaking of electric flaps...Mr. Fraser your's were mighty fast when I saw them at VIS. Extension time looked to be about 3 seconds ? 30 degrees fully extended ?"

RB[;)][;)][;)]

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

I've got one of those too ! Sometimes I pull might right leg instead of the "handle!"

RB