Thorp Air Command - T18.net

After 27 years of flying a really great airplane, and much soul-searching, I’ve decided to sell my Thorp T-18. I’m almost done with building a new airplane that I’m excited about and that will allow me to do some different types of flying that I’ve been dreaming of for the last few years – so I’m entering a new phase in my flying life. I can’t really justify 2 airplanes and the cost to house them, much less fly them both as much as they should be flown… that’s just the way my life is now. A few details about the airplane -

Total time, airframe & engine (160 hp Lyc. O-320-D2A) – 1307 hrs. The engine is still very strong & uses approximately 1 qt. of Aeroshell 15w50 between 25 hr. oil changes. I have never had to add oil between changes. Custom engine-mounted spin-on oil filter adapter. Custom air/oil separator system. Cochran S.S. cross-over exhaust system. Very clean engine compartment with Thorp-style baffling & silicone rubber seals. Custom Oxygen sensor air/fuel mixture detector circuit. Aymar-Demuth 68-75 prop.

Main gear 2” longer than original. Scott master brake cylinders. Cleveland wheels & brakes. Aviation Products 6” tailwheel with extra new wheel & tire and extra parts.

Airplane has Thorp original design manual pitch-trim and manual flaps. Original Thorp-design roll trim. The airplane flies straight, and rudder trim has never been needed for me.

The panel is “old school” basic VFR w/ steam gauges, King KY-97a comm, Terra TRT250 Mode C transponder, ACK altitude encoder, NAT intercom, Garmin GPS100 (yes, it still works), Garmin GPS Map 196, and TruTrak DigiTrak single-axis autopilot (tied to the Garmin 196).

Whelen strobes and position lights.

Comes with 2 modified Sennheiser ANR headsets, powered by ship’s power, and custom canopy cover.

The airplane has won several awards in its life, including Outstanding Workmanship at Oshkosh and the Wright Brothers Award at the Dayton Airshow.

This airplane cruises at an honest 180 mph TAS at 7500’ msl, burning less than 7 gal/hr.

Make an offer.

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

If someone ever wanted a T-18 here's your chance, this is one of the best around. John is an excellent craftsman, besides being a gentleman.
John good luck in your new venture.

Hello John,

What is your phone number ?

Thanks, Dan

Anyone that has built one of these aircraft , this has to be a very tough decision . It is a fact of life that sooner or later we all will be dealt this hand for a variety of reasons and will have to move on . Anyone that buys this AC will inherit a ship that was built to standards that most of us can only admire ! I hope John and Vicki fly the Kitfox for many years and make it to a few T-18 Fly In's ! Keep your airspeed up and watch your six !

NX115RX
Rich & Sil

Sad to see you are selling it John. It is a wonderful example of a T-18 - if I were a collector, this would be the pick of the litter. Hopefully, I will make it over there this summer to admire your kitfox build.

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Thank you, Bill, Rich and Frase for the nice compliments. There are so many good people whom I consider special friends in this group, and I will always feel happy & at home with you guys no matter what (or if) I'm flying. I'm trying to make sure that my Thorp goes to someone who will love it as much as I do.

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

John,
Well, you can take the boy out of the Thorp, but you can't take the Thorp out of the boy. And you can rest assured that you built one of the nicest airplanes to grace the skies! I have no doubt that your Kitfox will be another craftsman-built, award-winning beauty.

I look forward to hitting some Colorado back/country strips with you someday! And if you come out West, we have a lot of fun spots to show you.

All the best!
Tony

Hey Tony... thanks! We'll do that! Idaho, Utah & Alaska are on my list also.

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

Well that's sad news for us. That is certainly a "Top 3" Thorp in my eyes. At every fly in, John and I have talked about fuel burn. Every single time I boast about my great fuel economy, Johns is better. That gorgeous gal will make someone VERY happy.
Cubes

Thank you, Cubes. Bad joke alert - Maybe I’m just flying “higher” than you most of the time... this is Colorado after all. Seriously, if we were both flying along at the same altitude I bet we wouldn’t be that far off from each other. For some reason(s) I have a real sweet spot at 2550 rpm and at those altitudes that is really efficient. Can’t remember your field elevation at Vegas, but my home field is just under 5700’ msl.

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

Wow John,
That hurt to read you're selling that beauty. But like Rich says, time rolls on for all of us. Whether you know it or not, your input and ideas on the forum have been the best help for me, all that time I was building. I can understand the fun you'll have with the Kitfox too. I always thought back country would be really great and I love to camp too. We all ought to have 3 or 4 airplanes, but I know you'll bring that one you keep so we can still see ya!

Les Krumel

Thank you, Les!

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

Looks like I'll have to find another sucker to tell my stale airline jokes to !

RB

John,
We are 2200'. We normally cruise around 10,500 or so. DA in the summer really gets up there. I know you aren't going anywhere, so not to worry.
Cubes

I’ve made an agreement to sell my Thorp. I really appreciate all of the kind comments, and the serious interest shown by a few.

It’s been a wonderful, life-changing experience, building and flying my T-18. I started on the journey over 40 years ago, and I will always feel like a member of this group. Vicki and I thank you all.

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