Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Thanks. I was thinking “removable” for cheek cowl. I didn’t look close enough at the one I linked. Mine is 4 pieces but it can be removed as 2. There is a top, bottom and nose bowl. The nose bowl is split. Servicing oil is a bit of a pain on mine.

_________________
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

Here's an example of a "cheeked" cowl, you'll note the cheek is removable on both sides.

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

That last one resembles what Cubes sells. Mine is apparently a Ratray or a variant thereof. Anyone have a picture of the original cowl that John mentioned or is it like the one Cubes sells?

_________________
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

There are basically 3 cowls out there ...

1.) The 'Thorp Cowl' which is the one most of us use, designed by John Thorp. You're referring to it as the Cheeked cowl.
2.) The 'Rattray Cowl' who's 'tell' is the boot cowl and forward skins have fiber glass fairings at the cooling air exists (and usually quite a bit of bondo)
3.) The 'Twin Comanche Cowl', looks a lot like and was modeled off the the PA-30. Nose bowl, alum, top, sides, and a fiberglass lower cowl (this sounds like what you have).

There are of course other variants but they've largely gone extinct. The 'Original' Thorp had one of the dirtiest nose bowls out there until it was replaced with a 'Thorp Cowl'

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Thanks Lee. That cleared some things up for me. I noticed the extra fairings on the one I linked but didn’t think the cowl looked that different from mine. But I didn’t study it very much either. It was hot and I was mowing when I took that picture.

Here is the only picture I have of mine that shows any useful detail. I think you are correct about what it is.

_________________
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

Just to confuse the issue more, looks like you have the Hamlin cowl.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Bob I think what I’m referring to as the Twin Comanche cowl is one and the same as the Hamilton (sp? meant to say Hamlyn) cowl ...

On that note ...

https://www.yoursun.com/venice-municipa ... 99874.html

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Ouch! A hand propping accident.

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/regi ... l-confirms

_________________
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

Interesting info on cowl types and names, I am sure the one on 444DD is of the Hamlin/Hamilton variety. Just curious how did it get to be known as the Hamlin/Hamilton cowl?

Dave

Bob can chime in but Lee Hamlyn was an early Thorp guy (early early) who adapted a Twin Comanche a nose bowl to fit the T-18, created the molds and produced the style of cowl you have. I should have given him proper credit .. much like when I asked my dad why my Polariod Camera specified it was for "Land"

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Thanks for the additional info Lee.

Dave