Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Hey guys ... Gayle Lecount's old airplane is listed on Barnstormers for $25K

http://www.barnstormers.com/listing.php?id=692913

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Hi Lee,

I chatted with the owner of the T-18 yesterday in lieu of a customer purchase inspection. Here are the details for the group, FYI.

Aircraft purchased by current owner from builder who passed away last Feb, hasn't flown since and current owner has never flown it. Two forced landings in it's life, one prop failure, the other fuel starvation. No apparent major airframe damage. One prop strike in mud during a taxi off pavement incident with previous owner/builder. Prop repaired, no engine tear down as no sudden stoppage. Title still in original owners name but applied for, not currently insured, so no test flights. Other than all that, sounds decent for the price and looks well-built.

Smokey

Thanks Smokey ... this is a well known airplane .. Gayle (original builder) was an early on long time Thorp guy. I never really liked the low cut windshield but some guys liked to cut the side skins down to WL42 for greater side visibility. Either way the airplane has certainly stood up to the test of time.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

I haven't seen counterweights attached in this manner. Anyone care to elaborate on these and how they are fastened to the stabilator?

These weights are precisely the the way John Thorp designed them to be installed. Check the plans for details.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Thanks Bob, I'll have to check that out. From the angle of the picture, they almost look like they screw in or something.

From the pic it is hard to tell, but the bullet weight is not faired with the leading edge like I have seem in the past ? It does look like it is "screwed in ?"

RB

Nope .. not screwed in .. most fared them in with the stab, but not necessary for anything other than aesthetics really.

As Bob pointed out, per plans, a 1/2" (I think) square tube of 4130 with a lead bulb on the end attached to the outer rib of the stab.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Did not know. All the ones I've seen have been blended into the stab.

RB

The "bullet" weights were JT's design. Lou made a modified drawing that hid the counterweights under the skin giving the tail a clean finish on the S18

My weights are under the leading edge.

RB

That's standard for the S18 and were a modification for the T18

Our T-18 was started in 1970, and finished in 1984, it has the hidden elevon counterweights.
I wasn't sure when I bought it, but Bruce Finney pointed out how to tell. What a relief, when I bought 883FF I wasn't sure how much work I was facing before it could fly it. Now I'm close to an oil change (21 hours and climbing rapidly)

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Scott Emery
EAA Chapter 326
T-18 N18TE

Gents,
Im being bombarded with emails from a former member of this forum regarding this topic. To help free me of this I need to ask the following question.

Are there any plan holders, builders or owners that are in anyway confused and or uncertain about the tail mods as they appear in the drawings?

To review the mods are listed on the main site under "T-18 SDRs"

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Lee I think the original John Thorp SDR drawings are pretty clear.
All being well the John Thorp standard bullet weight looks like this picture when removed from the stab. This one shows the fairing as well.

I think the hidden weights would be neat are neat but are almost 1 pound heavier.

Cheers
Stuart