Thorp Air Command - T18.net

It's warmed up to a toasty 25 deg. right now... heat wave! Supposed to be even warmer tomorrow Cubes! Clear, bright sunny skies today - perfect flying weather.
I didn't mean to hijack your thread, Terry, but Florida sure sounds nice right now- especially since my skiing days are long gone.

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

Somewhat better, but I'm staying inside thank you very much.
Cubes

Here in Lakeland the temp is 70 , 013 broken ,vis 10nm. I think I'll go to the beach

Doah!

Today was cut, finish, drill and dimple day
Tomorrow should be rivet day. That will complete the center section. Then it'll be time to start bolting the airplane together and finishing some odds and ends
Flight should be possible by march

Trial fit of the skin

Today was so nice that I decided that it was time to install the horizontal stab. I found that I should have made the fuselage access port a little larger. The only thing left to attach in the aft end is the push/pull tube to the horizontal stab. I ran out of time tonight and wasn't able to get the bushing in the fitting. I have yet to do the final riveting on the center section- maybe that'll be on tomorrow's list as well. I'd like to mount the center section next week.

Awesome job Terry. Can't wait to see it fly. Get some dual.
The bolts did not show up today. Maybe tomorrow. Threw out back worse. I might be laid up tomorrow
Cubes

Here's the center section just about ready to bolt on the fuselage. The electrical is run through the channels and the molex connectors are in place. I've attached the walking beam to check the fit. I'll remove it before the wing goes up in the slot just so there's more room to get the spar in place.
I ran the engine again today. I looked at the engine logbook and found that the serial number on the left mag doesn't match the logbook. As it's an 'unknown' - it comes off tomorrow and gets sent for inspection and a 500 hour overhaul.

Keep up the good work!

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

We had 70 degree temps here on the Gulf Coast - so it was time to glass the intake onto the lower cowl. 2 layers of glass done with some filler and sanding to go.

Yesterday we laid out the inner and outer wing panels to make sure they would play nice together. The center section is from Karl Lipcombs Thorp. The outer panels are the ones that 66WT flew with, but they had never been mated. The outer wing attach fittings did have to be reamed to accept an AN10 bolt (that wasn't easy) but they fit well together.

The center section story is a little longer. I'm working the issue and will let everybody know how it turns out.

The main thing is that progress continues and I am thankful that the parts that will be 218TH were made at the same time and have already been fit and checked.

Here's the latest update. The center section is mounted and bolted in place. Aft bolts drilled- incidence set. Had to phone a friend before I drilled- thanks to bob Highley. We then temporary put the right outboard panel in place to check the fit. I also taped the graphics in place to get an idea of the finished product.mthere is a little more final paint work to do before the vinyl goes on for good.
Unfortunately, there's still too much to do to get it done for. Sun n fun....but oshkosh and kentucky dam should be a sure thing.

Wow!! Fantastic Progress and Fantastic work!! Things are gettin real exting now are they not! Dan

Out for Taxi tests today. - no chance of taking off........