Thorp Air Command - T18.net

One on Barnstormers for $20,000 .

RB

That's because you never flew one.

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

The bigger question might be: What do you want for an airplane? You indicated you were keenly interested in the Midget Mustang so why the sudden shift to a 2 seat? There are other single seat "go fast" airplanes to choose from (RV-3, Cassut, Shoestring...) . Your height wouldn't have anything to do with that since EAB aircraft are built to fit the builder but it is the only reason you gave. I have sat in a T-18, Mustang II, RV-6 and a Tailwind. The Mustang II was a bit of a stretch for me because the builder was taller. The RV-6 was a little cramped so I figure the builder was smaller than me. The builder of my T-18 is my size and it fits me pretty well. I did consider an RV-4 and -8 (I even bought an assembled RV-8 tail kit) because the tandem seating offers more room per individual but I am glad I have the T-18.

It is getting hard to find "legally" spinnable primary trainers. It seems like everything I see anymore has a placard prohibiting spins. Some are TC'd that way but even the old C-150s have placards now(because of a rudder stop AD note). Not many places using Citabrias or similar for primary training.

_________________
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

Hey Joe that's what I figured. Well first you have to figure your mission and only you can do that right.

If the t-18 fits then consider this:

Its been around sense 63 hundreds have been built.
it was designed by a very professional engineer. Literally the weight for every nut bolt and washer calculated. -18 stands for 18 design.
the tail was tested in a NASA wind tunnel unofficially good for sub mach speed.
it can carry two people across the country w 75 lb of bags at 180 mph
at +6-3 its great fun doing acro. Its size, visibility, control response makes it a perfect formation platform.
the first home built to fly around the world
The first home built to fly to the north pole.
the first home built to fly to Australia.
Factory support was been in decline but that is a thing of the past. you will find all the support you need to build and fly here.
You, literally can not find as much airplane for twice the money.

I suggest you hop a ride. this forum is filled with engineer/ pilots, ex fighter jocks, commercial pilots, all love this plane and would be happy to give you a ride.

guys if I fouled up a fact sing out.

_________________
http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

You forgot to tell him what a wonderful guy I am !

RB
NX115RX

wait, why is the "18" in T-18? I never gave it any thought and I don't follow Lou's explanation. Fly one and you'll want one.

Ryan, if you have'nt done so, Google John Thorp(Wikipedia ??) JT had a lot to do with aircraft, probably short of being a genius when it came to airplanes.

Designs go back to the 30's , this list proves Bill's point about where the T-18 designation came from .

RB

The T21 I believe is the "Fletcher" aircraft built in Australia.

Hearing about the "Fletcher" in Australia, I was having coffee one day with John and somehow his "fletcher" design came up. He laughed and told a story about it. Apparently his original intent was to sell it to the defense department as a cheap counter insurgency strike plane, easiely afforded by smaller countries. He was at the airport,probably Burbank, when the president of the United States flew in in Air Force One. His plane was sitting on the apron, running, with loaded machine guns and loaded rocket tubes when AF 1 taxied by. His plane had just returned from a demonstration for the military, I don't remember where. He said the Secret Service would have thrown a fit if they had known the "little airplane" was a deadly killing machine right by the president.

The Fletcher was in production for years in Australia as an Ag plane.
Steve

Look up T-18 Newsletter #27, Has a very detailed section on Aerobatics including Spins. Luther D. Sunderland's Revised Edition of T-18 Newsletters. (1 through 44)

Just for the record the FU24 (Fletcher ) was never produced in Australia. Right from day one when JT came out to set up production it's home has been Hamilton New Zealand. Support is still provided by Pacific Aerospace who produce the XL 750 which was derived from the FU24 albeit not much of the original design left. The FU25 was the Defender a single seat COIN aircraft for ground attack. I think only 3 were ever built and I believe one is still flying in CA somewhere.
Tony
ZK-VMS
T18C

Not sure if that is the exact version Tony refers to, but there is a Fletcher based at Yolo county west of Sacramento. It's a sky diving platform. I saw it yesterday while giving a BFR.
Cubes

Cubes
That will be a XL750. A lot have been exported in recent years for parachuting.
Tony S

If you want to see what John's original design developed into go to this site. http://www.aerospace.co.nz/
Tony S