Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Hi Guys,

I want to rebuild the landing gear on my T18, with a Ron Zimmerman (Wittman) style gear. I have two RV6 gear legs, which i would like to use (and appear to be the correct angle and length)

Anyone have either the drawings from Mr Zimmerman, a picture of the A - frame, or perhaps a picture/drawing of the newer 3 piece bolted a-frames (ala S18)?

I have a new complete gear that style here in southeast Illinois that I would part with.

I just sent you a PM with a picture

Thanks for the picture, still looking for a drawing however.

I don’t think you’re going to find a “drawing” of the 3 piece gear. It was certainly not a Thorp or Sunderland design. The closest LS proposed was cutting the gear vertically. The gear Dave just sent you the picture of is about the best you’re going to get to visualizing a Wittman gear on a Thorp.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

The only Wittman geared Thorp I know of waddled when it taxied.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

If someone wants to try it I would take $500 for this one or trade it for a conventional gear

Several years ago I switched from a wood prop to metal one and have a standard prop extension for a wood prop I will sell. It is for a Lycoming O-360. I bought it from John Thorp when I was using his templates in his shop back in 1974 or thereabouts. I will take $300.00 plus shipping. If interested e-mail me at stevehawl@windstream.net and I will provide pictures.
Steve

A bit late on this topic. I have the bird build by Ron Zimmerman, (N118).
Initially I believed the landing gear was designed by Ken Broke. The guy I bought the plane from, told me that this landing gear is much better that the original designed by J. Thorp, since it will not get cracks as the original one or as the RVs, which is true so far. That is it a tapered steel design that slips into a receiving end and located with one bolt.
With the plane I get all the building documentation, but as far I remember no extra drafts for landing gear. I will check and get back if any drawings found for the l.g.
Let me know if you are still interested in the pictures. The plane is 60 miles from where I'm living. It is a 3 parts gear.
@ Lee, yes I get a bit of shimming on the concrete runways, after landing, that depends on speed and on the tire pressure. By accelerating or decelerating slightly the shimming disappear. This shimming it is much more common for the RV6 I've heard. On grass strips there is no problem with shimming.
Just curios how Wittmann gears get on Thorps ?
/Valentin