Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Its seems that the standard suppliers of T18 parts are no longer doing landing gear. Does anyone have a set they would like to sell or know of someone who is willing to fabricate them. I bought the set off barnstormers and it wasnt as advertised. Or if there is a demand for them I could have 6 or 8 set made up to offset the cost of mine. Classic Sport will make them but only after he has 6 orders I guess. So if anyone has a set to sell or wants to make them for me let me know.

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J. Hoover
N330JH
Yelm, Wa

I went thru this drill last year. I see a need for landing gear, but had one taker. The cost to make 5 gear is about $4000.00. I can't justify $4000.00 laying around in gear legs. I have the fixture to make them and a welder (notice I did not use certified)and a heat treat facility lined up.

Jerry,
By not as advertised, do you mean it was a short gear and you were expecting an extended gear?

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

The set on Barnstormers was replaced because of cracks. He had them welded. But, no heat treating. I can't believe he didn't disclose that.
Balico stretch in CA had several sets in his hanger. All needing some repair.

I straightened a set, but they need HT. Could bring them to SnF.

Jerry,how did you have them shipped?? How much?

Bob MO

You must have got these from the guy in Maine...I think they came off of my airplane originally. I was supposed to get them when I picked up the airplane but he forgot to give them to me. I knew they were not heat treated and welded as he did disclose this to me at the time of sale. Maybe good that I didn't get them but unfortunate for you.

Tim A.

I knew they were cracked, but he didnt tell me that they were twisted too.

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J. Hoover
N330JH
Yelm, Wa

I think around 125.00 From Maine.

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J. Hoover
N330JH
Yelm, Wa

Well if you want to have a couple sets made up let me know.

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J. Hoover
N330JH
Yelm, Wa

Where...and how many Washingtons ?

Hi all
This is my first post here so forgive the silly question but I was curious to know if anyone had considered re-engineering the main landing gear making use of an alternative material e.g. titanium alloy .
I just checked the weight of a bare set of landing gear and they came in at about 12.5kg- 27.5 pounds, I am not sure if that is typical of others but the possibility of saving a third to half that weight is appealing if the cost difference wasn't too great, which of course it probably is.
Stuart

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Stug

Hello everybody, This is my first time on the T18 foum. I need a landing gear for my second T18 project. (The first one was in 1987.) I can't find a source for the 1 1/4" x 0.313 4130 steel tube for the inner gear leg. I'll build my own if I can find this stuff. Does anyone know where I can this material?

Clifton Redden
Pine Knot, Ky.

HI CLIF;

YOU CAN CHECK WITH MIKE AT CLASSIC SPORT AVIATION IN PORTERVILLE, CA. HE PROBLY HAS SOME ON HAND. PH; 559-782-1281

GOOD LUCK.

TED; N18NH

Try Factory Steel 888.472.5569. Also, Plymouth Tube 630.393.3550. I can't remember who had it, I'll look through my notes and see if I can find it.
I don't think Classic has gear in stock and the last I heard he was a year away in producing more. He might have the three piece gear, but I would not use it. Just my opinion. I've got the fixture to build gear but never could get any takers, so I dropped the project. You need to make 6 or better to keep the price affordable. The oven charges are out of site for one gear. I just could not justify having $5000.00 of steel laying aroung.

Try Dillsburg Steel in Pa. and Metlab, also in Pa. heat treated the last one piece gear I had done for $250 about 5 years ago. Obviously there is a need to come up with a order at least for the materials to make gear legs. If it can be had Dillsburg will get it. How many others need the material? I may be willing to organise a batch of gear legs in either length if there is interest. Dana LaBounty

When you say Dillsburg Steel I think you might be referring to the Dillsburg Aeroplane Works. The owner is Charlie Vogelsong. When I built back in the late 70s he did not have the material for the gear. Could be different now. Great place to do business, in most cases UPS shipping on day of order. Even though he didn't have the gear material there is not much that he doesn't have.

Jim Hockenbrock
N22JH

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Jim Hockenbrock