Thorp Air Command - T18.net

In dwg 514, John Thorp shows you where the vent is supposed to be. Why not put it where the designer put it and move on to more important things -- like flying the finished plane.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Ouch!

Bob,

Do you have a boost pump or gravity feed only?

Bob MO

I have fuel injection; pump is a must have. Also, you are really pushing it to use gravity feed on a rear mounted carb. Most Lycomings come with a fuel pump, must be a reason. (Here we go again!)

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Down the well traveled road again...gravity vs pump .


RB

I wasn't trying to re-start pump vs. gravity debate. I was just sharing my personal opinion on the tank vent location.

BTW, on which drawing does John Thorp show you where the pump is supposed to be? I'll put it where the designer put it and move on to more important things -- like flying the finished plane.

D

Touche`

Good one!

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Matt Smith
Des Moines, IA
55RC

Double OUCH!

Good point, Dick.

I don't mind re-visiting this subject once in awhile. Fuel-injection & rear-mounted carbs aside, the designer of this great airplane, who people (myself included) are very quick to quote or to use his shared knowledge to point out what you should or shouldn't do, sometimes forget that his own personal 180 HP T-18 didn't/doesn't have a fuel pump. I'm just sayin'.

Lycomings come with fuel pumps because a great majority of aircraft require it, due to long, complicated fuel delivery systems, wing tanks in low wings, & the other fore-mentioned issues, etc. I guess the point is that if you need it you've got it. If you don't need it, why make your airplane heavier & more complicated? KISS.

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

Just an opinion I believe we are all very lucky to have a bird so versatile, 180 hp all the way to an 290, not to many if any can use the variation of powerplants, pump or no pump, the systems variation is incredible. This bird was well thought out by a smart man, no fuel guage no problem, if you have a stick and a watch you will do just fine. Need to go somewhere fast? no problem, the 290 or the 360 will get you there in a hurry, just a matter of preference that's all. How about one that folds up? no sweat we have that to, we have 3different wing configurations, pick one, they all work extremely well. and also, In any configuration the thing is beautifull, we are a lucky bunch, and I don't think that there is any question about that. Our support Group, second to none no doubt......Dan

I pretty sure I install a ISS 2-1/4 (p/n:10-01108 from spruce) fuel level gauge instrument. Somebody try this gauge and what is the fuel level sender I have to use???
6'' to 12''
10'' to 15''
15.5'' to 24''
27'' to 36''
All the transmitter has 30-240 ohm.

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

I think you need the longest one?? I cant recall for sure (and I just replaced my sender..). I went to a boat store and bought a generic sender and it works perfectly.

Your float sender arm is working on witch way?
-from the left to the right...
-from the front to the rear...
If you see your fuel tank from the top?

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

on my plane, the fuel tank's sender access hole is located in front of the pilot seat. looking from the top, the float arm extends towards the passenger side of the plane.

On N30WW the sending unit is installed from side to side. There is no way you can get a linear motion of the sending unit. When my gauge reads 1/4 it has about 10 gallons of fuel left.

I went with the Westach fuel gauge and the matched capacitance sender . This type of sender will allow you to adjust the level using pot screws on top of the sender (assuming you has an access plate on top ) . I calibrated the sender out of the AC and then fine tuned it with it in the AC . Gauge is accurate to within about 1/2 gallon . Very happy with it .

RB