Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Well, friends, I guess it's time for me to share my project progress.

N886Y was delivered to the little town where I live in Ontario, Canada, in August of 2010. After a few hours of taxi trials, I started taking panels and things off for a more in-depth inspection to make sure it was ready for the government inspection. Without going into going into a ton of detail, the airplane needed a lot more work than my light pre-buy inspection revealed.

Here we are, three and a half years later, finally on the home stretch. It's been a roller coaster of emotion; it's been an tremendous learning experience; it's been a personal journey. I've met many good folk in the course of this project.

I hope these pics come through.

In no particular order:

New canopy rail supports





Removing the old tank bung


New Fuel Cap


New Seats


New Seat structure


New Tunnel


New Baffles


Tip for installing Adel clamps


Cockpit - new and improved


New Flap Actuator


Grounding Tabs

Dick,
I like your tip for installing Adel clamps. One question, how did you sneek the kitchen implement out to the work shop with out "She Who Must Be Obeyed" seeing?????

Inquiring minds want to know.

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

That's one advantage of being a born-again bachelor.

Love the new grounding busses - how do you remove that fuel cap?

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

Indeed... there is not alot of room between the cap and the edge of the doubler, but a Cirque du Soleil performer would have no trouble with it as long as he knows the trick.

I'm going to braise a ridge-handle across the top.

Looks great Dick. Hope to see it and you at KY Dam this fall!

_________________
Matt Smith
Des Moines, IA
55RC

A child of 3 could do it... with 30 years experience.

Looks good, Dick!

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

He Dick! Do you need more help
Keep going, one this yellow bird flight again!

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Thanks, Thierry, but I'm beyond help.

Dick
can you tell me the name of the flap actuator you have and where you bought it?
Ryan

I'll raise you $20 a child of 2 could do it with 20 years experience . Call....

RB

The actuator is a Fergilli, 3" stoke. Several guys have used them in their T18's. There is one reported failure. I'm not too worried about it.

http://firgelliauto.com/product_info.ph ... ucts_id=34

I'll check when I get home, but I'm pretty sure the actuator I installed last year has a 4 inch stroke.......?........is that why you're still a batchelor..?......TOOT! >:D

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

Dick's correct .. you want the 2" stroke actuator. The Original 40 deg flaps is right under 3 inches, 2 inches is puts it at the second notch which is where we want to be.

((2 * 3.14 * 2.12)/360) * 80 = 2.96

Where 2.12 is the length of the original flap handles horn ... guess it does pay to listen in math class

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

That jives with what I found. I had to move the limit switch to limit the stroke... 2.25" according to my notes, but 2" would have been fine. No fuss, no muss.

D