Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I wondered also, not wondering any more.....Dan

Bonjour Thorp community!

I'm happy to post on this forum again.
Quick story....Since last June I decided to open my own Aircraft Maintenance Company. Lot of job my friend and lot of worries....I have to put all my flying project on the ice and I just flew my Pacer 25 hrs this year. Fast forward to last week, I restart to work on my Thorp and my Texas Taildragger project.

I build a straight and level wood support to install my center section for the riveting.
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There is my update for the aileron bell-crank. I choose to cut the bottom of the skin to have a easy access during the visual inspection or if I have to work on the push-pull control tube.
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I bend each side of the inside doubler to put more strength on this parts.
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Perfect flush inspection plate with flush screws.


Time to dismantle one side of the wing to spray the epoxy primer.






Small angle are in place.


Nose and rear ribs are in place. Next step is to install the skin and driven the rivet.

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Congratulations on your business! Welcome back! You had us worried. Super work as usual.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

I installed the wing skin. A quick view before I put in place the last outboard rib.


Inside the wing between the middle rib.


One wing are completed....Flap are in position to see the alignment.


I think, I don't need flap gap seal

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Sorry folks to bother you again, but the right wing is on the way






60% done......

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Beautiful. Wish I could work that well.
Cubes

Cubes!
Come in Montreal, I teach you fine sheet metal secret

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

All the leading edge ribs are riveted.


Before riveting the big spar, I clamp both wings with a large quarter inches steel angle! I want to be sure the wings are perfectly parallel.


I "MacGyver" this steel block to help me to drill perpendicular. I always drill my hole with a undersize diameter.




No time to play tomorrow
I work on another Airport, so no T-18 updates!!!!

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Some day Thierry I will take you up on that.
Cubes

Finally my second wings are completed and the right flap is installed.
I saved 1 man hour on this side.


Center section and outboard are jointed together. The entire wing stay bolted during the time I take to build the wing fairing.


After a couple of beer to celebrating the end of the riveting, I decided to jump on my plane and do some aerobatics maneuvers


More and more beer....and now I'm the next wingman

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Wow Thierry. You are incredible. I enjoy seeing your swift progress!

What a ride.

Hi Thorp friends!

More than one year with no post from me...I'm always with you folks.

I started my Aircraft Maintenance business in 2014 and since, spare time is really hard to find. I removed my old 290 engine in my Pa-20 and I installed a fresh overhauled 320, so during the engine change-over I don't take the time to work on my T-18. I work hard too on my C-150 Texas Taildragger, project is in good way but lot of work to performe before this Cessna take the air again.

Since my last post in late 2014, I finished all the sheet metal work. The landing gear fairing are in place. I cut and drill the gear extension, I just need to put the block to the meiling. Fairing between center section and outer wing is done. I make small aluminium cover under the wing for the ailerons push-rods. Heated pitot is in place under left wing. I put lot, lot, lot of time to sand and prepare the fiber-glass wing tips.

Last summer I do a bad move, I buy a great Lycoming IO-360 angle valve and I start the installation in the Thorp. Nice engine 200hp full injection model but after calculation the engine extras weight and the size of the cylinder under the cowlings, I decided to sale the engine. Too big, too heavy and the price of the part are to expensive for me. I lost 2 months (part time) making plenum baffle. Finally I sold the engine just before Christmas and last week I found a straight 0-320 with 1300 SMOH.

Pictures soon...

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

The 320 engine ready to be install.



I'm not able to resist to install the prop and the cowling!





Wing tips is good to go.





My shop....



A Citabria need a new engine, a C-172 with a fresh Annual Inspection, another C-172 need lot of TLC, plus all my personnal project...

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

There is the template skin for the gear fairing. Same spec from the original plan.


Fairing is installed.




Now I have to search for this collar. Somebody have 2 larges and 2 small in stock for sale?

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091