John Willard Thorp was an aeronautical engineer

Aerospace engineering

Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...

 who made significant contributions to aircraft design throughout his life.

Born in French Camp, California

French Camp, California

French Camp is a census-designated place in San Joaquin County, California, United States. The population was 3,376 at the 2010 census, down from 4,109 at the 2000 census. San Joaquin General Hospital is located in French Camp....

, John Thorp grew up from age four in the historic Locke family home in Lockeford, California

Lockeford, California

Lockeford is a census-designated place in San Joaquin County, California, United States. The population was 3,233 at the 2010 census, up from 3,179 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lockeford is located at ....

. He was educated in the Lockeford and Lodi public schools, and the Boeing School of Aeronautics in Oakland, California

Oakland, California

Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...

. Mr. Thorp worked on the Boeing 247

Boeing 247

The Boeing Model 247 was an early United States airliner, considered the first such aircraft to fully incorporate advances such as all-metal semi-monocoque construction, a fully cantilevered wing and retractable landing gear...

 final assembly line and then returned to teach at the Boeing School. Starting flying in 1929, he received his private license in 1930 and by 1935 had flown 30 different types of aircraft in over 200 flying hours. By 1946 he had over 600 flight hours in 62 different aircraft types. Mr. Thorp started designing personal aircraft at the Boeing School. As Lockheed Assistant Preliminary Design Engineer, he was responsible for the preliminary design of the P2V "Neptune", Naval patrol bomber. In 1946 the famous P2V "Truculent Turtle" set the unrefueled distance record of 11236 smi. This record stood for more than ten years, until finally broken in 1962 by a Boeing B-52H Stratofortress from Minot AFB, ND FAI record.

1930s

• T-1 - 1931 Design study of a two place light plane.
• T-2 - 1932 Design study.
• T-3B - 1933 Two/Four place, all metal, retractable, built by Rudy Paulic.
• T-4 - 1934 Design study.
• T-5 - 1935 Tandem two-place trainer, built by Boeing School.
• T-6 - 1936 Modified T-5 with tricycle landing gear, built by Boeing School.
• T-7 - 1939 Design study of an all wood airplane.

1940s

• T-8 - 1940 Design study.
• T-9 - 1941 Design study.
• Mod 33 1942 Lockheed Model 33 Little Dipper
  Lockheed Little Dipper
  The Lockheed Model 33 Little Dipper was an American single-seat monoplane, designed by John Thorp and built by Lockheed at Burbank, California, only one was completed.-Development:...
  
   single place for flying infantryman.
• Mod 34 1943 Lockheed Model 34 Big Dipper
  Lockheed Big Dipper
  -External links:**...
  
   two place single engine pusher
  Pusher configuration
  In a craft with a pusher configuration the propeller are mounted behind their respective engine. According to Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind engine so that drive shaft is in compression...
  
  .
• T-10 - 1944 Series "I" Sky Skooter - Taildragger - proposed engine Franklin 2AC-99 50 hp.
• T-11 - 1945 Sky Skooter, 65 hp Lycoming O-145
  Lycoming O-145
  -External links:...
  
  . FAR Part 23 certification.
• TL-1 - 1948 Design study - Liaison Airplane.

1950s

• T-111 - 1953 Sky Skooter, 75 hp Lycoming O-145. FAR Part 23 certification.
• T-211
  Thorp T-211
  -External links:* * * -See also:...
  
   - 1963 Sky Skooter, 100 hp Continental O-200. FAR Part 23 certification.
• T-12 - 1945-50 Design study.
• T-13 - 1950 FL-23, high wing observation prototype built by Fletcher Aviation.
• T-14 - 1951 FD-25, "Defender" armed light plane, 225 hp Continental, by Fletcher Aviation.
• T-15 - 1952 FU-24, agricultural aircraft for Aerial Topdressing market, prototype built by Fletcher Aviation, large scale production in New Zealand
  New Zealand
  New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
  
  .
• T-16 - 1956-58 180 hp, Piper Cherokee
  Piper Cherokee
  The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use. It is built by Piper Aircraft....
  
   preliminary design. PA-28 first built with 150 hp.
• T-17 - 1958 Wing Derringer original design. Began as twin engine Skooter.

1960s

• T-18
  Thorp T-18
  The Thorp T-18 Tiger is a two-place, all-metal, plans-built, homebuilt aircraft designed in 1963 by John Thorp.The aircraft was originally designed as an open cockpit aircraft, powered by a military surplus Lycoming O-290G ground power unit engine, but evolved into a fully bubble canopied aircraft...
  
   - 1960 All metal two place, high performance homebuilt.
  • Don Taylor's T-18 was first homebuilt to fly around the world.
  • Clive Canning flew his T-18 from Australia to England and return.
• T-19 - 1962 Design study - Four place, twinjet aircraft using Williams Research engine.

1970s

• T-20 - 1971 Design study - Single place, open cockpit sport plane
• T-21 - 1971 Design study - Utility airplane.
• T-22 - 1972 Design study - Sport plane.
• T-23 - 1972 Design study - Single place high performance sport plane.
• SE5-F 1973 WWI replica - Prototype built.
• T-28 - 1974 Design study - Two place, twin engine airplane based on the T-18.