Thatcher Aircraft – Thatcher Airplane Kits and Parts

Thatcher CX7
Thatcher CX7

See what we’ve been up to lately:

thatcheraircraft

Caught a take off from Sky Harbor in Duluth, Minne

Caught a take off from Sky Harbor in Duluth, Minnesota last night. ... always thought it would be fun to fly a float plane!

I finished the form blocks, now I'm cutting rib bl

I finished the form blocks, now I'm cutting rib blanks. These are the wing tip rib blanks, for where the wing tapers to the tip.

These and the tapered ailerons are why David Thatcher's wing design is both beautiful and easy to build!

#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
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#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
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#revmaster

Getting some CX5 wing rib form blocks cut for a cu

Getting some CX5 wing rib form blocks cut for a customer order. You can save some money by forming your own ribs - but make it easier on yourself by ordering rib blanks and form blocks!

#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

A beautiful Thatcher CX4 on the June 2020 cover of

A beautiful Thatcher CX4 on the June 2020 cover of the UK's Light Aircraft Association magazine laa.uk.com
Gorgeous photo by @sheldonphotoguy
#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

Working on a new CX7 center section spar tonight!

Working on a new CX7 center section spar tonight! There were some issues with the dimensions on the first set of plans, but I think we have them worked out now!

#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

Lower longerons on the Thatcher CX7 require two an

Lower longerons on the Thatcher CX7 require two angle pieces be nested together. To make the sharp corner match the inside radius, use a 1/4" roundover bit on a handheld router. Easy-peasy.
Also, aluminum shavings are truly man-glitter. 🤣

#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster
#manglitter

Another Thatcher CX4 flying! @eaa Sport Aviation m

Another Thatcher CX4 flying! @eaa Sport Aviation magazine has a nice write up of Bruce Patten's CX4 based out of Maine.
Congratulations on a beautiful plane, Bruce!

Put the boy to work tonight organizing bolts and n

Put the boy to work tonight organizing bolts and nuts and rivets (oh my!!) #eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster
#hangarorganization
#hangararound
#organization
#shoporganization

CX7 progress tonight! Got more bulkheads fit, and

CX7 progress tonight! Got more bulkheads fit, and started on the longerons to join the center section spar with the rear spar.
#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster
#builder
#plansbuilt
#kitbuilt
#lightsport
#lsa

Making jigs for the CX7 center section rear spar d

Making jigs for the CX7 center section rear spar dimension. I am blessed to be able to use my equipment to make what would normally be a tedious part, quick and precisely!
#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster
#cnc
#machining
#instamachinist
#machinist
@milltronics
#milltronics
#cncrouter
#smallbusiness
#maker
#manufacturing
@avidcnc
@amanatool

Who else is watching? #launchamerica

Who else is watching?
#launchamerica

Progress on the CX7 today. I formed the fuselage s

Progress on the CX7 today. I formed the fuselage side bulkheads the other day, and finally had a chance to install half of them today. It's starting to look like an airplane (to me anyways!) 😁

#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

Who says the CX7 isn't aerobatic? Ok, okay, only k

Who says the CX7 isn't aerobatic? Ok, okay, only kidding, but it is inverted on the bench.... 😁
#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

When you are bracing the fuselage frame, you can u

When you are bracing the fuselage frame, you can use cheap hardware store aluminum - however you don't want to mistake it for 6061!! I paint my 'scrap' aluminum pink so I can tell the difference.
What tricks have you come up with to help build your plane?
#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

The firewall is going on! Took some careful measur

The firewall is going on! Took some careful measuring to figure it out, but I'm back on track.
#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

Had another great call with a bunch of Thatcher bu

Had another great call with a bunch of Thatcher builders on Saturday! We're doing an online virtual Meetup every Saturday morning for the foreseeable future.

https://youtu.be/TIslKxxZ2h8

Details on the Thatcher Aircraft Facebook page and on the groups.io forum.

We're going to be talking about fuel systems and vinyl wrapping your plane this week. Join us even if you're not building a Thatcher!
P.S. another Thatcher CX5 had it's first flight today!! #eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

After some dimension issues on the CX7 plans (I ha

After some dimension issues on the CX7 plans (I have the first copy, so bound to have issues), I'm getting close to mounting the firewall and center section spar! (Note, it's upside-down on the bench in the photos). #eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

I'm loving the coating on these @amanatool Spectra

I'm loving the coating on these @amanatool Spectra endmills! Looking forward to seeing how these last in MDF form blocks.
#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

Hi all! These virtual meetups have been fun and i

Hi all!

These virtual meetups have been fun and informative! Let's just plan on having them for the next several Saturdays @ 11am EST, 10am CST, 9am MST, 8am PST. The info below will work for the meetup every week going forward. Please share with those who might be interested.
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1486515829?pwd=a2hvNDZtRm9zMTFPbkp1YnRVUmV2Zz09 Password: thatcher

Getting closer to having the cockpit together. Got

Getting closer to having the cockpit together. Got the angle mounted to the front and back of the firewall this afternoon.
#eaa
#experimentalaircraft
#thatcheraircraft
#aviation
#flying
#kitplanes
#kitplane
#aviation
#pilot
#homebuilt
#thatchercx4
#thatchercx5
#thatchercx7
#revmaster

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