Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I remember reading a discussion in the past regarding making a boot to cover the control stick area, any suggestions please?

I used the same heavy duty material that covers the side panels next to the seats . I shaped it like an ice cream cone and had a gal with a heavy duty sewing machine sew up the sides . Made the base to fit the arc of the walking beam for clearance and secured the "cone" to the base with a doubler plate on the top and bottom . Boots have been in place for almost 10 years with no sign of wear and take up a lot less space than the auto shift type boots that some folks use .

RB

I built my base up about 1/4 of an inch but haven’t fastened it yet. Didn’t know if you ever have to get in there again which would dictate riveting or nutserts. How are the trim plates attached to the flooring ? Thanks for the reply and pics.

Yes, you will need to get into that space for inspection. Also, I made the right stick removable (pip pin) for passenger comfort.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Bob is right . I take the boot bases and pull them aside for conditional inspections . While I am in there looking around I shoot a short spray of lube on the walking beam pivot points . The bases are attached to the "floor area" with #6 ( I think they are #6 , maybe #8 ?) stainless steel machine screws .

RB

The impending colder weather has me thinking about the frozen fingers I get from the draft coming up the stick starting about this time of year. Searching the forum found some discussion but dead links to the pictures (even altering the address didn’t help). I don’t have access to a heavy duty sewing machine. I guess I could hand sew some but what automotive boots are people using? The ones I have looked at don’t look like they would fit over the stick.

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Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

I use one from Autozone trimmed, cut and tailored to fit.

Hi Jeff,

Heavy duty sewing machine maybe not necessary for your boot, depending on material. Thin material is good so not to move the stick on its own. Good to have them to keep anything from falling down and jamming other things ‘up’. I used black naugahyde in a cone as Rich said, and likewise, a thin plate at base to hold it down. Add a zipper up the side instead of a seam and it’s easy to slip on and off over the grip.

I came across a bag of 6-32 PEM nuts and use them throughout the airplane for non-structural items like this. Highly recommended for ease of installation, just a 3/16” hole and squeeze one in on back side with a clamp, vise (or hammer). They have serrations to lock them in. Better grip than sheet metal screws and not likely to strip out (sorry Rich).

Les

Look on Ebay, 218TH has black suede covers installed. The shifter cover had a plastic insert- once removed it was the ideal size for the stick. All I had to do was fabricate how it would be attached to the airframe. There may still be interior photos on the build thread for 'Terrys Keeper"

I used an eldery lady that ran her own taylor shop in side a laundry . She had a heavy duty sewing machine and only charged me me a few bucks to sew up both boots . The material was HEAVY duty truck upholstery material .

RB

These from Amazon work great and slip right over.

Spectre Performance 6285 Universal Shift Boot
https://a.co/d/15015az