Thorp Aircraft Revival

Aircraft engineer John Thorp famously demonstrated its simplicity by having a T-18 fuselage assembled in just three and a half days at the 1963 EAA Fly-In in Rockford, Illinois. During his employment with Boeing and Lockheed, he refined his design and then sold plans sets for his revolutionary homebuilt, which featured matched-hole assembly and no jigs (and you thought that was a more recent development).

This design was later refined, with Thorp’s blessing, by Lou Sunderland, who stretched the wings by 5 inches and the cabin width to 40 inches. The new result was the Sunderland S-18, but over time everyone refers to the updated design as a T-18. Over 1,600 sets of T-18 plan sets have been sold, and over 600 were completed to flying status.

The T-18 officially obtained legend status when Californian Don Taylor built a long-range T-18, named it Victoria 76 (after the only one of Ferdinand Magellan’s ships to actually complete his round-the-world journey), and then set out to be the first pilot to fly around the world in a homebuilt aircraft. He almost made it but had to quit as a result of horrible weather between Japan and the Aleutian Islands. He tried again in August 1976, leaving from the EAA Annual Convention in Oshkosh (before they changed the name to AirVenture). Traveling eastbound this time, he made it. Later, Don flew Victoria 76 to Australia and even to the North Pole.

With this kind of cred, the T-18 became very popular in the ’70s and ’80s. With the advancement of Van’s Aircraft, however, the design could not keep up with the full kits they offered. Thorp later sold his company, and there have been a total of six owners since then, each lasting an average of 10 years.

Enter Alex Pearson, a man who wanted to fly ever since he took his first flight at the age of 5 in a Cessna Skyhawk. Never a professional pilot, Alex built a great information technology career with manufacturing and distribution enterprises. As a sideline, Alex would obtain, restore, and then resell aircraft for fun and a little profit. One day he obtained a Thorp T-18 because it met his desire to have an aircraft that was fast and could carry a reasonable load. While rebuilding the Thorp, he called the then-current Thorp company owner to order some parts. As it turns out, parts availability was extremely limited. Feeling he could do better, Alex stroked a big check and bought Thorp Aircraft, lock, stock, jigs, and barrel.

Alex Pearson has done his research. He knows the Thorp T-18 design inside and out. He knows that the design is still incredibly relevant today, stating that it is a modern aircraft with a 60-year history. Alex is still selling T-18 plans sets ($395 plus shipping), but he is also developing a complete fuselage, wing, and tail kit so that builders will not have to source all of the materials from scratch. He plans on making the kits available this summer. A full kit, less engine, instruments, and interior (you know the drill) will go for about $38,000 to $40,000. Although pressed to do so, Pearson refuses to take any deposits until he actually has parts in hand and ready to ship.

Alex has a tent and legacy T-18 displayed at Sun ‘n Fun. The beautiful T-18, N711SH (as in “711 SH** HOT”), was built by local Lakelander Bob Highley. As with other T-18s, it is fast, efficient, and can carry quite a load. Be on the lookout for Alex and the new Thorp Aircraft to be at AirVenture in July. For more information, visit thorpaircraft.com.