EAA Sport Aviation - September 2011

gauges are electric, meaning no fluid/pres-sure lines in the cockpit. The exception to this being the fuel tank to fuel valve to firewall fuel line. The only other additions to the panel were the remote emergency locator transmitter test/reset switch, RAC trim indicators, Hobbs meter, and a cigarette plug adapter (for warming in-flight meals).

Next up was what I call the “fuel management and environmental control console.” I didn’t like the idea of using three different push/pull controls for the engine, and being more comfortable with a throttle quadrant, I chose that type of setup. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a small enough unit through a supplier, so I chose to build one to fit the space and meet my requirements. After about two months of R&D and several prototypes, I ended up carving the housing out of a block of solid acrylic. The three levers—one for the throttle (black), one for the mixture (red), and one for carb heat (silver)—took several more weeks to get the right length, bend, and throw.

The unit fits nicely on top of a housing that also holds the Andair fuel valve, guarded switch for the primer solenoid, two push/pull controls for cockpit air and heat, and the rocker switch for the electric rudder trim. It is a lot of “monkey motion” installed in a small space, but it enables me to control everything with the right hand while keeping the left hand on the stick.

I dressed up the interior with some marine-grade carpet, stainless steel skid plates on the floor, and covered some panels with vinyl to install on the sides of the cockpit. A baggage compartment was also installed to carry the necessary overnight items.

The first flight took place on April 3, 2011, at Brown Field in San Diego. The flight was uneventful and lasted 45 minutes. The Thorp S- 18 is a great airplane and performs as well as the other homebuilts in its class for about half the cost. Additionally, the folding wing ability, which allows me to store the plane at home, has saved me about $1,500 in hangar rent since its first flight. Now it’s time for some $300 hamburgers and to start my next project: restoring my 1969 MGB I bought in 1970.

To learn more about the T- 18 Owners Association, visit www.SportAviation.org.

1. The series of bends required in the rudder skin make it one of the more difficult control surfaces to fabricate.

2. The control panel of the Thorp S- 18.

3. Hanging the Aero Sport Power 0-360

4. Two steel fittings that mate with a single steel fitting on the outer wing. Also shown is one of the two mating bell cranks that are part of the folding wing mechanism.

2

3

4

SHARE YOUR CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH EAA SPORT AVIATION READERS WORLDWIDE Send us a photo and description of your project and we’ll use it in “What Our Members Are Building & Restoring.” Please include your name, address, and EAA number. We reserve the right to edit descriptions.