Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Hi everyone.

My name is Thierry and I from Montreal, Canada.
I just buy my dream T-18 project after many years of research and I'm the only Thorp owner in Quebec.
I like flying taildragger plane and last year I rebuilt and fly a Sonerai 2 mid wing. Great performance with the Continental 65hp but the problem is the payload!
I always like the shape of the Thorp and the performance was excellent versus the price!
From now to the first roll out I want to post some pictures of my work and my progress. My english is not perfect but pictures is better than words.
I decide to rebuilt the plane completly beacause so many things was bad. I'm a aircraft mechanic so I really want to fly a safe sky rocket!








I'm very open to discution and I appreciate your opinion.

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Hi Thierry: Welcome.

I live in Merrickville Ontario (1 hour south of Ottawa) am the closest Ontario Thorp owner to you about 3 hours away by google.

Looked your registration on line it lists C-FPVE as manufactured in 1994 as S/N 091.

Can you give us an additional information about your aircraft, engine, AF hours etc.

I see by the photo's you have the fuel tank out, you might want to consider to make the cabin floor removeable for access to the tank, brake bleeding and instrument pannel access.

Check out the members photo's gallery's lots of info. there.

Also don't be worry about the language issue, this is a pretty good group of homebuilders willing to chime in to help.

Again welcome.

_________________
Victor J Thompson
C-GIRQ
In memory of Dad

Thierry: Since you are rebuilding:

There also is a list of Thorp Airworthiness directives (scroll down on the main page) that you might want to embody if not all ready done.

Cheers.

_________________
Victor J Thompson
C-GIRQ
In memory of Dad

Hi Thierry, and congratulations on your purchase and your choice of birds. You will find those on this site very help full. Dan

My Thorp was built in 1994 s/n 091. Only one flying owner, I'm the third now.
Last flight in June 2000.
Airframe 228.2 TT.
Last empty weight 887 pounds.
Lycoming 0-320 A1A with chrome jugs and around 750 smoh.
No propeller but I want to find the best cruising prop!


So the fire-wall was removed because is in bad shape and lot of holes drill for nothing! A new installed.



Damage area.



Ready to riveting.





A small coat of paint apply before I re-install all the stuff inside the airframe.



Shear plate damage so I made new with the original plan.



Each side of the lower fire-wall is damage so I decide to install small patch on both side with the same rivet patern and pitch design.





This is the fresh rebuilt wing on my father garage.



Tomorrow is sunday and the shop is closed(familly day)
I try to work each day a couple of hours and I hope the plane was ready for the spring 2014...

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Thierry: Firewall repair coming along nice and thanks for the additional info.

_________________
Victor J Thompson
C-GIRQ
In memory of Dad

I almost finish to patch all the holes in the cockpit area. A real mess!!! and also lots of rivet was bad and I replace around 50% of the previous job.











I start do rebuilt the center tunnel, again speed hole everywhere...







Really bad repair in the tail section. No question, I made new bulkhead.





The last tree stations and the splice skin are in place.





I want to finish the tail section this week, and start riveting for the week-end.
After that I put the canopy frame on and check to built new track.

Cheers.

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Cut a lighting hole in the last bulkhead large enough to install the pushpull tube through. It will save you some heart burn later. The only way you can install the pushpull now is through the windshield.

Tabarnoosh Thierry!!, that bird has seen some wear and tear - it's nice to see someone bringing it back to life. We will all revel in your progress

Amazing repair job ! With all the holes in the firewall you could pass the push pull tube thru there ! What a mess of bad rivets...BOOM ! You work almost as fast as Lee Walton .

RB

Bill Williams
Post subject: Re: C-FPVE

Cut a lighting hole in the last bulkhead large enough to install the pushpull tube through. It will save you some heart burn later. The only way you can install the pushpull now is through the windshield.
Cut a lighting hole in the last bulkhead large enough to install the pushpull tube through. It will save you some heart burn later. The only way you can install the pushpull now is through the windshield.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:29 am


Thanks for your inquiry!
I just want to put the last bulkhead in place to see the good fit. You have lots of experience to see this possible mistake of my part.
I appreciate.
Merci.

I decide to closed the bagage area and made some easy removable back seat. A RV owner at the airport has a lot of scratch on the inside of is canopy. I don't want to do the same when is the time to put something in the cargo.

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Thierry,

Your work looks very good, and you have done a lot very quickly... it looks like it was a real mess in more ways than one!

Just one important thing - it looks like your seat belt fittings are are attached with only 3 aluminum rivets. That's not good. You should really change those to John Thorp's design, as shown on the plans.

Keep up the good work!

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

Great. I check that tomorrow morning when I start my day at work.
Seat belt attach is very important. Each day I see the original plan and I verify that all the parts are in place.
I not happy I miss this one.
For me this site is a real treasure.

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Fraser,

Who knew you spoke Frernch Canadian......? You truly are a an enigma wrapped in a riddle and deep fried in chocolate sauce.

Scott

Hi!
I start early this morning at the airport. I work on my Thorp at lunch time and after my work.
At dinner time my father come and help me to installed the last 18 rivets on the fire-wall. My both arms was too short.



I start to inspect all the former and repair the damage.



Again,again,again...



New top and side skin installed with cleco to see the good fit.



The door frame was removed and replace.



All the corner was too square. Perfect for cracks! I have to cutout and restart with better corner radius.



Tomorrow it's Valentine day. I bring some new bolts in heart box for my new love...my Thorp!
Cheers.

_________________
Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091