I bought a Barn Find Airplane stored for 20+ Years!!!

#aviation #rebuild #experimentalaircraft
I bought an airplane that was forgotten in a dirt floor barn for the last 20 plus years! Check out the new to me Thorp T-18 and watch us dig this thing out of the back of a barn and haul it home, getting it out in the sunlight for the first time in over 20 years. This is the first video of many to come, documenting the rebuild process and the return to the skies of this awesome airplane. Be sure to subscribe and follow the project!
Special thanks to the people who helped move the airplane:
Scott, Don, Lyle, My Dad
And thanks to Whitney for filming all of the action.
For day to day stuff:
/ motoflightguy
/ motoflightguy
www.motoflight...
Come hang out with me on Discord - / discord

[@chetmyers7041]

Just found your channel. Will enjoy watching the progress on this project. Happy wrenching.

[@MuggaVirtualPilotMVP]

Congratulations! An exciting aviation adventure awaits, will be looking forward to future updates.

[@peterjaypriest]

Oh man!! I can hardly wait for you to complete your T18 project and fly it for the first time...! I found your channel from the T18 forum, by the way... Like you, I bought a T18 that, while capable of flight, it had been sitting for a long time, and needed a lot of work. But, when I first flew it, I fell in love. These are FANTASTIC little airplanes, and are deserving of some love! I wound up putting in a new Garmin glass panel and autopilot, etc. Awesome! I really think you'll love it! Have fun!

[@TRANSFORMER2508]

My guilty pleasure Tailwind or Thorp

[@RamblerMan68]

Man, that thing cleaned up nice!! Good luck with the outer wing and instrument panels. Look forward to the reincarnation 😎👍

[@terryboehler5752]

Great find. Steam gauges work great. Consider the BOM from Levil Aviation. It mounts under the wing and communicates via blue tooth to any tablet you want to use.

[@arrow7212]

I totally get it, been here. Awesome experience coming your way. Once in a lifetime opportunity. Shame the paint is in such good condition else it would require VULTURE paint. Being as it is, I wouldn't change a thing on the paint. I can see this restoration on the cover of EAA Magazine next year. Hell yea, Moto, good luck with this project.

[@MotoFlightGuy]

Haha I don't know about magazine cover material but I'm glad you have the confidence in me!

[@jhaedtler]

It is simple to make a wing jig to reskin it. You could have it flying in 6 months! You will love it!

[@MotoFlightGuy]

If you have any tips or suggestions I'd love to bend your ear about it

[@jhaedtler]

@@MotoFlightGuy Have you looked into the history of the T-18's? Originally they where open cockpit and open cylinders. designed around the 125 hp ground power units. That sold then for around $97.00 each! The Thorp's the Tailwinds and the Bushby Mustang 11's where all in the same time frame and speed ranges. I think you will like they way they fly. Like your Tailwind touchy controls, but really nice to fly.

[@streettosky5983]

Save your money on the transponder, get a tailbeacon X and an AV-30. That will get you a transponder as well as ADSB in and out. Wish I would have gone that route on my S-18

[@MartyG144]

Welcome to the thorp world!!

[@tbyronlooney9371]

Is the Ercoupe that was in the barn with your plane for sale as well?.

[@guyoreilly5670]

Enjoy the process!

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

You think that guy would want to sell his Ercoupe?

[@peterdawson4559]

I'm sad you are selling the Tailwind. But if there was a plane that I'd consider doing the samething myself it would have to be a Thorp. Well done on the find. All the best with the rebuild/assembly

[@MotoFlightGuy]

Believe me, I am gonna be sadder than anyone when N7733 goes to a new home. It is such a great airplane

[@coincidentalrvadventures2081]

What I would give for the Ercoupe.

[@antonyarnanova]

Congratulations, so looking forward to the rebuild!!! So you still have the tailwind?

[@MotoFlightGuy]

I do, it is currently for sale though

[@ezeikelgundelfinger9135]

Tell us a little more about the Ercoupe as well...

[@MotoFlightGuy]

I can't really tell you about it. I never looked it over when I was there. I have flown a couple of them and they are neat, but I wasn't interested in buying that orange one so I never really asked about it

[@dyc1013]

lucky find !

[@daniellarson9867]

How would I contact the guy with the orange ercoupe ? Also good luck with your new project, glad to see someone getting er up and flying again, thanks for any future info on the ercoupe!!

[@mg-kv4dw]

I know where an aircraft is that has the identical paint job it might be one of the three you’re talking about

[@mg-kv4dw]

It’s located at New garden N57

[@rdbaldw]

Congrats! Any idea on specs once it’s flying again?

[@MotoFlightGuy]

Not exactly sure with this prop and engine, but expecting 170-180mph if I can get the wing straight and true

[@premierrealty80]

Were is the ercoupe located and is it for sale?

[@MotoFlightGuy]

Central Illinois. It is for sale but hasn't flown in 20 years and has no logbooks and hasn't been stored properly

[@premierrealty80]

@@MotoFlightGuy Thanks for the info I appreciate it

[@MotoFlightGuy]

@@premierrealty80 if you are looking for a flying ercoupe there are 2 for sale at my home airport right now

[@premierrealty80]

@@MotoFlightGuy Thanks for the reply, were is your airport located and if you might have any contact with the sellers I would greatly appreciate it

[@MotoFlightGuy]

@@premierrealty80 2H0 is the airport code. I can get some information for you or you can call the airport manager there and he is the guy selling them

[@thomasbayer5736]

I would have bought the aircoup, not that piece of crap

[@streettosky5983]

I bet you’re real fun at parties. Who pissed in your lemonade? 😂 also you sound like someone that should stick to nose draggers.