Thorp T-18

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The T-18 is a two-place all-metal homebuilt aircraft designed in 1963 by John Thorp. Engines commonly used run from the 125 hp Lycoming GPU, affectionately known as 'Mouse Motors' to the 180 hp Lycoming IO-360. Intended to be easily constructed from sheets of aluminum, the T-18 is both durable and capable of high performance, cruising at up to 180 mph.

The T-18 was the first homebuilt to make use of a stabilator or "flying tail", an invention of John Thorp used on most low-wing Piper aircraft, beginning with the Cherokee. Notable aircraft of this type include N455DT, built by Donald Taylor of California and flown around the world from Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1976, the first successful circumnavigation of the world by a homebuilt aircraft. Clive Canning flew another T-18 from Australia to England earlier the same year.

T-18 plans are currently available to builders from Eklund Engineering, which is also developing a laser-cut kit version.

[edit] Specifications (T-18 with O-290)

[edit] General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 18 ft 11 in (5.77 m)
• Wingspan: 20 ft 10 in (6.35 m)
• Height: 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
• Wing area: 86 ft² (8 m²)
• Empty: 900 lb (409 kg)
• Loaded: 1,500lb (682 kg)
• Maximum takeoff: lb ( kg)
• Powerplant: 1x Lycoming O-290, 125 hp (93 kW)

[edit] Performance

• Maximum speed: 210 mph (336 km/h)
• Range: miles ( km)
• Service ceiling: ft ( m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: 18.6 lb/ft² (85 kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: 0.08 hp/lb (0.14 kW/kg)

[edit] Related content

Thorp T-18/S-18 resource: T18.net

Related development: Thorp T-211

Comparable aircraft: Vans RV-4 - Glasair III -

Designation sequence: