Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I know there are a lot of variations in the T-18s and some will probably do better than others. But what is the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the T-18? If not published, how comfortable are members with crosswinds and what is considered a prudent limit?

Thanks,
Marty Vanover
Tucson, AZ.

Depends on a LOT of factors. But I have landed my Thorp with 30kts direct cross on a trip to a Thorp fly in years ago in Oklahoma. Problem was, after landing and turning off the runway, full power and standing on the left brake wouldn’t get her to go around the corner onto the parallel.
The flight controls are powerful enough.
Cubes

Cubes is right. Ground handling is the problem. Tail Tailwheel lock breakout force is a major concern. You lose rudder effectiveness at 30-40 mph. Excessive braking can put you on your nose.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

FWIW, I have landed in a 25(ish) direct cross wind in Mesquite, NV. Challenging, but doable. I gave myself every advantage I could by lining up on the downwind side of the runway(in this case, the right side as wind was from the left) so I minimized the weathervaning and had more runway to work with) focusing on speed and being ready at touch down for the inevitable want of a left turn and tried to time it to where I had the taxiway close in case I needed to take a hard left at a little higher speed than normal.

I was a little nervous going down final, but the T-18 handled it better than I thought. I could have gone to the nxt airport, but was getting a little nervous about fuel. Had I made a go-around, I would have diverted. I wanted to give it one shot and was glad I did as it gave me a data point.

Here is another good data point always worth repeating. At -52 Deg. F OAT, your butt will freeze to a painted wooden toilet seat.

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

Fraser : Those wooden seats would look great in your aircraft !

RB

15 mph direct crosswind is about all I can claim in the Thorp (up to 25 mph direct in others, gusty to 18 knots in the L4). The aircraft handled it easily. Much better than any high wing Cessna I have flown. Then again, I almost lost it the other day in a variable 6 mph crosswind. I didn’t leave the pavement but the track was a pretty wild “W” from edge to edge. Don’t really know what happened. Never had that airplane get wild before, even when my toes were getting hung up on the fuel tank.

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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 had the unfortunate pleasure of showing up to a VRB20G30 once. Took a few tries but it worked out. Glad it was in a Thorp and not something less concise.

-Andy

One thing the Thorp doesn't like is a tailwind.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Maybe the wind shifted and gave me little push from behind the other day but I have landed it with as much as a 10 mph tailwind with no issues. I have picked up some bad habits at work and ignoring the wind sock if it isn’t straight out is one of them.

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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

It just widens the speed gap between rudder effectiveness and tailwheel authority. Again, tailwheel steering breakout force is critical.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL