Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Leo & I flew down to Hendersonville yesterday in his C-185. We installed Don Douubleday's metal Sensenich prop, extension, spinner, etc. (That is my old prop off N118GG). We couldn't find any other damage. We took off for home about 1:30 CDT. I was using less than 50% power flying formation with the C-185. We stopped at KMRC (Maury Co. near Columbia, TN)for fuel. I took 14 gals and the 185 took 40. We had plenty of time remaining to make it home but a look at the radar persuaded us to go drink beer and spend the night. We are still at the hotel this morning waiting on the system to pass through. Jim Paine & Jerry Sheets had examined the taxiway that collapsed and found that the culvert was made from an old fuel transport truck tank. The ends had been cut out and the tank installed over 30 yrs ago. Not being galvanized, it proceeded to rust out. They could punch a steel rod through it in numerous places. I was just the lucky one to fall through it. To whom should I send the bills for the recovery and repairs?

This is what Gary is refering to ... you may have noticed from the Spring Fly-In pics that Gary's bird did not make it to NC ... here's why.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Dang it...that hurts. Time to call in the withchdoctor and get the bad juju magic off of this Thorp. Neither Gary nor his Thorp are deserving of this type of bad luck. Did the wing come out ok...?

SS

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Scott Stine
Vincennes, IN
812-881-7923
Arrow 545WA

The first thing I heard Gary utter was "Damn if this isn't a hard luck airplane" ... along those lines Gary scooped up some Kitty Hawk sand and a witch doctor to cast out the demons from NX218V. We'll have to ask him how that went.

The wing was fine ... just buckled a bit under load .. once we pulled it out of the hole and relieved the load it was fine.

Here's a pic afterwards ... Gary gave it a bath before we left.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD