Thorp Air Command - T18.net

John,
Since you are replacing the pushrod tube seals, you might want to consider also replacing the cylinder base o-rings. You can leave the pistons in the cylinder and just pull the wrist pins out (just don't pull the cylinders up too much or the rings will pop out). It would suck to go through all the work and then have the cylinder bases leak because the old o-rings did not seal properly.

_________________
Bernie Fried
N18XS

Bernie, that's a great idea. I believe I have the o-rings and will get some knowledgeable friends to help do this in August.

_________________
John Twigg N12055 SN.79 Pittsburgh, PA (KFWQ)

Had a great vacation in Anchorage with my son and his family - and our new granddaughter! Back home now and started to make some progress. Put the main gear back on today and added the engine mount after.

_________________
John Twigg N12055 SN.79 Pittsburgh, PA (KFWQ)

I've never hung a conical mounted engine, but on a dynafocal, it is much easier to hang the mount on the engine, then hang it on the gear. Might want to try that.
Cubes

I might try that, Cubes, if I run into trouble. My current plan is to put the ring mount on the engine first. I have to do that so that I don't have to loosen or remove either magneto. I found out when I took the engine off that the ring mount JUST clears the magnetos with a little trial and error. Hopefully the same is true putting it back on. Then, I'll mount the engine mount tubes on the fuselage. Finally, I'll mate the ring mount to the tubes with the 6 AN 4 bolts.

Cubes - thanks for the Vstab tip and rudder springs! I got them yesterday.

_________________
John Twigg N12055 SN.79 Pittsburgh, PA (KFWQ)

Looking forward to seeing everyone at OSH. N12055 will be returning to its airport on Aug 12 for final work and condition inspection. I start tailwheel training as soon as I get back from OSH. I'll be training with Hal Goff back here in Pittsburgh if any of you know him.

_________________
John Twigg N12055 SN.79 Pittsburgh, PA (KFWQ)

Got the engine hung yesterday and tried the cowling on for size. I have never seen N12055 with the cowling on. Pretty . Cubes - I listened to you and put the engine mount onto the engine first and then mounted the whole thing to the aircraft and it worked out very well without horsing around. Thanks! It was very good to see everyone at Oshkosh. Congrats, Les, for your award for a fine job!

_________________
John Twigg N12055 SN.79 Pittsburgh, PA (KFWQ)

She looks fast as a bullet just sitting there waiting to go!

Got my tailwheel endorsement plus my flight review a week ago after 8.5 hrs in the Cub. 1947 with 85 HP. My first time in a Cub. Thanks Hal!

_________________
John Twigg N12055 SN.79 Pittsburgh, PA (KFWQ)

Love Cubs! What a hoot! That mean you are coming to Vegas?
Cubes

That's the plan at the moment, Cubes. I can't give a good date yet for coming out. I want to come out right after my plane is signed off, which won't be until September (I hope).

Also, I have to deal with an Avemco quote that is different from what they told me at Oshkosh. At Oshkosh, they told me they were good with 8 hrs in the Cub and 2-5 hours in type. The written quote I received said nothing about the Cub but 10 hours in type and I hope I don't need that many hours! I need to call them and let them know that I received my tailwheel endorsement since Oshkosh. Anyone prefer another insurance company for T-18's?

_________________
John Twigg N12055 SN.79 Pittsburgh, PA (KFWQ)

I have been with Avemco for almost 40 years and still have one plane with them. When I was insuring my Thorp Avemco's quote was high even with discounts. I checked with Falcon, with a EAA membership there quote was about 2/3 of Avemco's, I went with Falcon. Both are good insurance company's, I just think Falcon's geared more to the experimental market.

Phil
118BC

Falcon knows Thorps. AVEMCO wouldn't touch my homebuilt even though they were the EAA insurer at the time. Call Bob Mackey at Falcon EAA insurance and get the real scoop.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

I whet through Sky Smith (a broker) and am insured with AIG/Chartis, they were half of the other companies that quoted. Avemco would not give me a quote 10 years ago.

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

Congrats on the endorsement. I have access to an L-4. Great fun to fly but it doesn't have much in common with the Thorp. The Cub is so benign I have never used the brakes in it, even to stop on pavement. If you can get some time in anything that handles similiar to the Thorp it would help with the insurance. Hardy Insurance is who I went with but I had a couple thousand hours of taildragger when I bought the Thorp.

_________________
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