Bernie Thalman's Thorp T-18 to Return for 50 Consecutive Years

June 27, 2019 - Joseph Thalman, EAA 570237, and his father Bernard (Bernie) Thalman, EAA 11495, will be flying the same homebuilt Thorp T-18 that was here at the 1970 fly-in to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019.

Bernie had the chance to meet John Thorp and was so inspired by John that he bought the plans to build his own T-18. He built N2911 in four years, and it first flew in 1967, the year Joseph was born. Bernie attended all of the Rockford conventions, and later visited every single Oshkosh fly-in with the Thorp T-18.

Joseph said being able to celebrate 50 years in Oshkosh with the Thorp is really important to both him and his father.

"I grew up flying them," Joseph said. "I got to fly them to college where I enrolled in ROTC. I became an Air Force F-16 pilot, instructor pilot, test pilot, combat pilot, and was privileged to bring the aircraft to the 1995 AirVenture show for the week. It's really special for me to be able to see my father's Thorp here in Oshkosh after 50 years of so much family history."