Live Breaking News & Updates on Classic Sport Aircraft

AVweb
Les Krumel invested 22 years building his award-winning Thorp T-18.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always liked to make things, and I thought an airplane would be the ultimate project,” said Les Krumel of Moriarty, New Mexico, a mechanical engineer who recently retired as a civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force who worked on aerospace projects. That understatement defines his humble personality. Making almost every part, Krumel invested 22 years in his project, and he was not yet a pilot when he started in 1993.
Born and raised in Nebraska, Krumel’s father, Ermin, was a machinist and a tool and die maker. “He grew up on a farm, and there is very little a farmer cannot fix, and I attribute most of my shop skills to my dad,” he said. “He passed away about three years ago.” Krumel cannot pinpoint his aviation inspiration. Growing up, he didn’t know anyone who was into it, but still the allure of flying coexisted with his joy of bu ....

United States , New Mexico , Lu Sunderland , Johnny Cash , Marykay Grahn , James Grahn , Bob Kemp , Luther Lu Sunderland , Ron Livingstone , Dick Cavin , John Walton , Les Krumel , Johnw Thorp , Tony Bingelis , Frankie Archer , School Of Aeronautics , University Of Nebraska , Us Air , Mutual Aid Society , Sportplane Builder , Aircraft Construction Methods , Sportplane Construction Techniques , Firewall Forward , Engine Installation Methods , Air Force , Thorp Central ,