Dave Taylor
Well Known Member
Fuse is 38" wide Bob
I know this is a typo Bob cuz I know you know your T-18 history
The fuse is 38" and the S-18 is indeed 2" wider.
I've owned two T-18s. One with the folding wing (Lu Sunderland design) and one standard T-18. My first T-18 was a pussycat to land but didn't fly as well in the air as my second T-18. I've landed a few RVs and my first T-18 was just as easy to land as an RV. My second T-18 flew wonderfully in the air. It handled like an airplane should, however for some reason it seemed to be more difficult to land. I'm not sure what the difference was but I truly enjoyed both of my T-18s.
I've never sat in a Mustang II let alone fly one, but if you find a good one, the T-18 can be a dream to fly. When I bought my first T-18 I probably had around 200 hours total time with about 30 hours tailwheel time. Landing my first T-18 it was a non event. Would I own a T-18 again? In a heartbeat!
My choices for the RV are the good handling characteristics as well as a slower stall speed but mainly I wanna build MY own airplane from start to finish. My hats are off to those who have built and finished a T-18. Before you think it is an impossible task I know great guy who built a fantastic T-18 in just 3 years. His plane is in Sport Aviation this month in the propellor article. It can be done.
However, building an airplane means different things to different people. A T-18 is mostly plans built (you can get some prefab parts for the T-18 and the S-18 is now a kit). The early RV guys had no prepunched options nor quick build options. They had to cut their trim tab from the elevator.
In the middle are us prepunched guys/gals. The holes are there but you have to drill, deburr, dimple/countersink each hole as needed. Quite a bit of work but alot has been done to keep the builder from making mistakes.
The other spectrum is the quickbuild. Less assembly, however still alot of work. Not everyone can build a plane even a quickbuild.
In the end you have to look at your misson, your skills, your pocket book and your desires.
The Thorp T-18 was the first "real" airplane that I owned and I'll always look at one with admiration.
I know this is a typo Bob cuz I know you know your T-18 history
The fuse is 38" and the S-18 is indeed 2" wider. I've owned two T-18s. One with the folding wing (Lu Sunderland design) and one standard T-18. My first T-18 was a pussycat to land but didn't fly as well in the air as my second T-18. I've landed a few RVs and my first T-18 was just as easy to land as an RV. My second T-18 flew wonderfully in the air. It handled like an airplane should, however for some reason it seemed to be more difficult to land. I'm not sure what the difference was but I truly enjoyed both of my T-18s.
I've never sat in a Mustang II let alone fly one, but if you find a good one, the T-18 can be a dream to fly. When I bought my first T-18 I probably had around 200 hours total time with about 30 hours tailwheel time. Landing my first T-18 it was a non event. Would I own a T-18 again? In a heartbeat!
My choices for the RV are the good handling characteristics as well as a slower stall speed but mainly I wanna build MY own airplane from start to finish. My hats are off to those who have built and finished a T-18. Before you think it is an impossible task I know great guy who built a fantastic T-18 in just 3 years. His plane is in Sport Aviation this month in the propellor article. It can be done.
However, building an airplane means different things to different people. A T-18 is mostly plans built (you can get some prefab parts for the T-18 and the S-18 is now a kit). The early RV guys had no prepunched options nor quick build options. They had to cut their trim tab from the elevator.
In the middle are us prepunched guys/gals. The holes are there but you have to drill, deburr, dimple/countersink each hole as needed. Quite a bit of work but alot has been done to keep the builder from making mistakes.
The other spectrum is the quickbuild. Less assembly, however still alot of work. Not everyone can build a plane even a quickbuild.
In the end you have to look at your misson, your skills, your pocket book and your desires.
The Thorp T-18 was the first "real" airplane that I owned and I'll always look at one with admiration.
