Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Mine is similar to Rich's except for the control. His control maybe easier to access.

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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

oops...meant to say "...similar to what Rich posted"

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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

Jeff,
I really like what you have, not having to mess with the Plexiglas. On the rear part of my canopy I have a angle that engages into a roller to hold down the rear of the canopy in flight. I will need to look to see if there is enough room to add the vent. I also like the idea of the vent opening outward but am trying not to add any induced drag.

Thanks Phil

I believe you will find that the rear of canopy is a high pressure area. The Thorp fuselage in itself is an airfoil.

I wish I could take credit for it but it came that way from the builder. NL#125 shows the door on the plexiglass.

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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

When I installed my canopy I just could not bring myself to cut a hole in my roof, hence, I made air inlets outboard of the wing gap and ran flex hose to eyeball vents on the instrument panel. You have to close them off if you want to unfold a chart, still use them, if not it ends up in the baggage compartment.

If you decide to cut a hole in the canopy, fly it with just the hole before you make a door. If you are not satisfied with the airflow, fabricate a temporary scoop on the outside of the hole and tape it to the canopy. If you feel the increased airflow makes it worthwhile, make an outward opening door instead of an inward opening one.

The extra parasitic drag from an outward opening one is practically next to nothing.

Two eyeball vents in lower dash , one is visible in lower left . NACA scoop on bottom of cowl . No holes in canopy . Easy to adjust flow or direction . Blow air on face or up skirt ! BOOM !

RB

Nice looking bird there Rich! I have the eye balls as well and mine are on the engine side cowls (have updraft cooling so no heat exiting in standard place). Work perfectly well though our ave temps in summer are around 25 - 30 C.
Tony S (can't do the affro thats your signature!)
ZK-VMS

Geez, I should read the post before pushing buttons! The eye balls are in the panel and i have NACA scoops on the engine side cowls. Plenty of draft!
Tony S

Geez, I should read the post before pushing buttons! The eye balls are in the panel and i have NACA scoops on the engine side cowls. Plenty of draft!
Tony S

Got my rear canopy vent installed. Took everybody's input stirred it all together and ended up with a 5" X 2" vent in the Plexiglas canopy. The reason I ended up with this is I have a canopy hold down for the rear of the canopy that will not allow the vent in the aluminum sheet. Some said start small so I did. I built a operating latch and lock out of billet aluminum, the only thing left is to fab a control rod to go between the two parts. Thank you all for your advise and help.
Phil
118BC