Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Vicki & I arrived home yesterday after spending the night in Pagosa Springs. It was a great pleasure to see everyone again, and all the beautiful Thorps! You did good, Rich & Sil, and Howard & Elaine really made it feel almost like home. Thanks to all!

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

"Such a fine place to be !"

RB

And a flat bed Ford slowin down to take a look at me!

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

Played the whole video. No sound. Dang RB, I sure did want to hear your loops-to-music BS again.
Cubes

I might be able to fit in the fart machine if you like them there sounds !

RB

It was a good flick, Rich! However... I could see a reflection in the "make-up mirror". I'm certain that it was someone else... perhaps a professional pilot?

Was that an "ah-oo-gah" horn for hailing the crowds? I'm gonna' put one in my new airplane!

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

...which reminds me....Paul McMichael, Chuck and Gary are back home. We chatted for a good way home as they paralleled us up the Tuckup Corridor (we went Dragon) about 30-40 miles west and I knew they'd be on "fingers". It's funny what some people say when they think they are not being heard......

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

As reported earlier Sun night Diane and I stop in Hood River, OR literally 100 miles as the crow flys to home as we were not able to fly through the Columbia Gorge. Mon it took until after noon for the weather to clear enough for us to leave an head back east instead of west through the Gorge along the river. We went to KYKM and KELN and followed I-90 to Snoqualmie pass where we had to turn around before we went IFR and returned to KELN. Neadless to say Diane was a little bit depressed at the prospect of not seeing her kittys for another day. We made a restroom stop, texted my daughter that we might not be home that night and were about to call Gary J to see if the 3 amigos had made it home when we heard an aircraft in the pattern, it was red followed by two white ones (Gary, Chuck and Paul), I told Diane who it was and she got the giggles, we weren't in it alone. A call to Flight Service to check weather revealed that the north cascades had scattered clouds just north of a line from Paine Field to Wenatchee and Paine Field (KPAE) was clear. Off we went as a gaggle of 4 aircraft, climbed through a big hole to 10,500 to clear some build ups and around the worst of the weather. The temp at 10,500 was 20 F and my ailerons froze from being rained on earlier, it took a couple of pops of the stick to break them free. Just an explanation point to an "epic" journey.

Some numbers, 24 fuel stops in 13 states and 1 foreign country, 56.3 flight hours and 394 gallons of gas. More on the journey later.

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

Some flying photos from Sedona...but first- Sunset on April 20th on Frasier's Room Deck




Curtis on Cubes Wing leaving Sedona for formation work


Frasier and Lou on Wing


More fun practice

All were "WOWED" by Les Krumel's latest addition to the Thorp Family.





An awesome showing of 15 Thorps by Sat PM. That's includes Tony Ginn showing up while 'breaking in' a new engine- But that's a story for Tony to tell.

Terrific to see everyone. It was great to complete my major overhaul JUST in time to make another terrific Sedona T-18 gathering. Just sorry I was LIFO (Last In - First Out). Glad I got to see the majority of folks but Sorry I missed the Visalia Gang who were off in Sedona and the "Thorp Wives Hiking Club". Next time!

Had a nice out-bound leg with Tom & Avalon Jones. Nice of Tom to fly low and fast as I am still breaking in a higher compression LYC O-320. I had somewhere between 1-10 flights on her as I headed East to KSEZ. But I only did so because the engine was performing excellent, the temps had already started lowering and there's very little oil consumption. And my route of flight was airport-to-airport (Edwards AFB, Barstow, Needles, Kingman, Williams, Sedona) with 4-lane runways below me almost the entire way (Hwy 58, Hwy 15, Hwy 40 and Hwy 89). The break-in is going great. All I need now is a fresh prop balancing and she's good for another 20 years.

Thanks to the Brazells and the Ginns for another fantastic event!!

Tony

Some more Sedona pics,

On Thursday the early arrivals went to lunch and for a hike in Slide Rock State Park north of Sedona
Cubes and Mary Kay checking out the ruins


The intrepid explorers going up the canyon.


The rocks of Sedona at sunset.


Sunset from Fraser's balcony


The Friday morning formation "clinic" returning


Les Krumel's intrument panel.


Meteor crater

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

Great pictures Bruce.
All, Les is going to try for OshKosh this year. You really need to see his bird! I expect it will win awards.
Cubes

More Sedona

My personal favorite of "Ma & Pa Sedona". With the Pineapple Express in the background.