Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I've been looking through the old Thorplist, drawings, and old newsletters looking for the dimensional details for the funky flat (45 degree) wing root fairings seen on many T18's. Does a drawing/sketch exist, or did everyone kind of just do their own thing?

They actually look quite easy to figure out. I'd be interested to know how wide the fairings typically are. ie, what distance folks have used out from the fuselage side skin to the furthest point on the fairing, along the aft edge of the wing skin. Also, how far aft, behind the trailing edge, does the fairing come back to a piont?

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In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.

Not as easy as it looks Dick, there's actually a bit of forming involved there, they are not flat.

Can be done but for what Mike Archer charges for a set, hardly worth the effort.

I'd call CSA and have him send you a set.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Lee is right. Just like the trim pieces for the canopy (which also appear to be "easy"), the fairings are in the same boat...I call them compound curves. Someone made fiberglass fairings and I believe used modeling clay (not sure about the clay) as a form/mold ? Check the NL's. May have been Tom Hunter ? I did get a set of fairings from CSA (still to be installed) and even they will require some work to install.

RB

Mike Archer does not seem to be around any more, and not surprising since this thread is from 2010 so does anyone have any idea where I can get wing root fairings, metal of fiberglass??
Speedbird 1.

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N872DD
200hp Lycoming

Thorp Central took over years ago as our part/kit supplier

http://thorpcentral.com

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Thank you lee,

I have been in touch with Cubes and he has a set that need a sheet metal expert to make them fit, and that is not me, so I was asking if anyone else has a supply, metal of fiberglass?
Speedbird 1.

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N872DD
200hp Lycoming

I just made a set out of carbon fiber. I had a set here that came close but did not fit just right. They're not an easy part to fabricate out of metal, curves and angles in the mix. I would dust off your composite skills and lay up a set in glass.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Have you done anything to mitigate the corrosion potential with carbon fiber and aluminum, Lee?

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

Well they're no different than any other composite fairing. I'm not aware of any corrosion issues ... they're only contact is paint on paint.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

The fasteners are the primary concern. That's where the greatest potential for good electrical contact probably is, and when combined with a little moisture can create galvanic corrosion. It's well known that carbon fiber is particularly bad with aluminum... it's the aluminum that will corrode.

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

Speedbird, What wing profile do you have? If it is the LDS (S-18), I'll make you a pair of metal ones for nuthin'.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Thanks John! I just learned something new!

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

John I’m assuming the paint will act as an insulator and perhaps nylon screws would do the trick?

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Yes, that would be good, if the nylon screws are strong enough for you. You're probably OK, but it would be a shame to see corrosion occurring at the fastener holes in the aluminum.
Just thought I'd mention it to you. Here is a link to a forum on this subject that I just found from EAA - http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?4503-Carbon-Fiber-Panels-Touching-Aluminum-Frame

There was a company here in Colorado that was making a carbon fiber version of the Swift several years ago, and they had to do some pretty creative things when mating aluminum parts of the structure to the carbon fiber. I believe they used some kind of special fasteners - I believe they were titanium, & I know that certain stainless steel alloys are also good.

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

Thanks John!!

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD