Thorp T-18

Single Piston

The Thorp T-18 is a two-seat, all-metal homebuilt aircraft designed by John Thorp in the 1960s and remains one of the most successful amateur-built designs in aviation history. Thorp, a Lockheed engineer who worked on the P-38 Lightning and Constellation, applied professional aerodynamic principles to create a compact, high-performance sport plane that could be built in a home workshop. The T-18's clean lines and efficient wing deliver cruise speeds around 150-180 knots on modest 150-180 horsepower engines—performance rivaling factory-built aircraft costing far more. The design's hallmark is its all-metal construction using simple hand tools and techniques accessible to first-time builders, with plans still available today through the Thorp Aircraft company. Over a thousand T-18s have been completed since the 1960s, with the type earning a reputation for honest handling, aerobatic capability, and exceptional fuel efficiency. The aircraft's low wing and tandem seating give it a fighter-like appearance, and many builders customize their T-18s with different engines, avionics, and paint schemes. SkyMeter has tracked 52 flights across 25 airframes and 24 operators, with VESSEL OF HONOUR MINISTRIES the largest observed operator.