Thorp Air Command - T18.net

An update from The Valley;

Weather has been great as has the food and comradary. All in all we've had 14 aircraft here 12 Thorps and 2 "Others". Some of us have kept the airspace safe above the valley others have been working to empty Gary's keg. All in all a great weekend so far ... Tonight we try to pull off a low country boil with out the master in attendance, wish us luck!!

Thorps In attendance;

Gary and Maxine Green
Dave and Karen Read
Wendell Green (T-17)
Lee Walton
Ron and Jane Hayes
Richard Bentley
John Evens
Cliff Goldstein
Matt Smith
Dean Houseman
Mike Fleming (HH old bird back in operation)
Ronnie Skaggs

Non Thorp attendees;

Damon Berry
Barbara and Charlie Cleevis

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Another great gathering. Many thanks to Gary and Maxine and Lee. Great food, great flying and great weather until we went home. Low and wet. Looking forward to Osh.

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N102RH
Ron Hayes
Blue Springs, Mo.

Pics from a great weekend!


This pretty much says it all ... I challenge you to find a more picturese airpark!


Gary's Homebuilt PA-11ready for DAR inspection, much like his Thorp this thing is flawless!


Look at the finish on that thing!



Leo's potatoe cannon










I love this airplane .. no flaps, high turdledeck, looks just like the prototype!


Dinner Friday night


Breakfast Saturday Morning at Ed and Nettie Ludke's place


Mike Fleming's (Howard Henderson's old bird) back in operation




Our attempt a Bill William's low country boil ... half eaten here.


My flight home was a little interesting


Wing Derringer escort on the way up

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Thanks Lee for the pictures, Gary and Maxine for hosting, Karen for the cookies, Leo for the room, and everyone for the camaraderie.
I had a tailwind both ways, 20+ knots on the way down and 10+ on the way back. Glad I got back when I did, sprinkles in the pattern at 3:05, raining by 4:00 and heavy rain by 5:00. I may have been able to make it back on Sunday but it would have been a challenge.

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Matt Smith
Des Moines, IA
55RC

I got home Sunday after skirting South around most of the ugly stuff, & rain in Arkansas & Oklahoma. Things cleared up around Tulsa. Had to contend with 30-40 mph headwinds and a bit of a bumpy ride, but they diminished into Colorado & home. It was truly a great weekend, and I can't thank Gary and Maxine, and Ed and Nettie Ludtke (who welcomed us into their home) enough. I remember some of those fly-ins in earlier years in Oklahoma where I first met Ed and the Thorp he built, now owned by my friend Cliff Goldstein. This was my 3rd or fourth trip to The Valley, and it's a sweet spot. Additional thanks to everyone else who made it happen, and to all the great people who made the journey.

Here are a few crappy pictures from my cellphone...

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

Thanks for the photos!

Thanks for the photos. I'm working hard on 66WT (Wild Thing) to get it done in time for Kentucky Dam in the fall.

Terry

Wow, what a beautiful airpark!

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Chuck Kincer
Richmond, Me
575CK
KIWI

Sigh....sure wish I could have made it - a great place to be sure - put the FWF back together last night after replacing the throttle arm and bushings in the carb, and (hopefully) sealing some minor leaky oil at the fore case halves using the vacuum crazy glue method, as well as some new bolts that just needed replacement.

Great pics guys.

See ya at OSH.

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

Boy, that spot of earth is beautifull, the Thorps sure look good out on that big Lawn. Looks like all had a very good time and all made it home safely, Complements to the Host for doin a wonderful job!! Them Thorp folks are just kinda special.......Dan