Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Hi all,
Sorry if this has been covered before but I haven't found reference to it.
I am building my fuselage with .032 side skins and was wondering if it is acceptable to use .025 for belly and top aft skins?
I'm trying to limit the weight penalty but still have added strength. Any wisdom appreciated.

Bruce

I believe that's normally exactly how you do it, Bruce... just the side skins .032, and the others you mentioned .025.

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

If you are going to use a larger engine, it would be prudent to make the skin over the gas tank out of. 032. Mine is. 025 and flexes a little under load. I have an IO-360.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Thanks John and Bob, that's what I wanted to hear.
I will make the tank cover skin from .032 as well, think its 699 skin

Bruce

Bruce,
My new plane is all .032. In addition, the engineer had us add 45 angles to the forward 4 boxes between the formers. Just FYI.
Cubes

That piece over the tank is also .032 on my T-18.

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

The piece is over my tank too....Dan

I've wondered why the rivets were not long enough, N30WW is .032 all skins.

My bottom skin is in 0,025.
Be carefull with the 0,032.....the weight increase rapidly!

0.025 4'x12' 17.28 pounds.
0.032 4'x12' 22.13 pounds.

I know is almost 5 pounds for a simple sheet but imagine for the entire plane.....I better to installed a stressed 0,025 skin versus a 0,032 with full of oil can wrinckle The worst enemy of fast small palne is the weight!

My 2 cents!

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Yeah, Thierry, I wish I could have used something lighter. However, I had to keep it very strong due to its mission. The engineer suggested it.
Cubes