This will be a monster project but at least its possible if the logs are complete as promised. They exist because of the determination of an affable scalawag to create and mass-produce all-metal airplanes. Base/used Price: $13,000: Engine make/model: Continental A65: The renamed Model 8 emerged from its brief gestation, someone spun the propeller, and it flew on the propitious date of December 17, 1937. Temco took over Luscombe and produced some 8Fs with wing flaps while also building the Swift before throwing in the towel. The airplane is powered by a horizontally opposed, four cylinder, direct drive, normally aspirated, air cooled, carburetor equipped engine. LUSCOMBE 8A He lost control of the company within sixteen months and re-signed in April 1939, never again to be involved with the organization that continued to bear his name. Try 150K for a CTLS. While it may be nothing but showmanship, the Silvaire can make a good pilot look very good and let the pilot flying it have a ball. Granted I know nothing about plane crashes (other than they are bad!) I got frustrated with how long my restoration was taking on N77885 and did exactly that one calm afternoon. They exist because of the determination of an affable scalawag to create and mass-produce all-metal airplanes. Steep turns are such pleasure that it is difficult to stop. As World War II wound down, Luscombe moved its factory to Garland, Texas, and decided to resurrect the basic 8A. Landing distance (50) 1,540. Woe may betide the pilot who has an uninformed mechanic who tries to adjust the brakes by pulling on the cables, for that pilot may find nothing when the brakes are most needed. Yes, sadly, it has already crashed. Luscombe 8 1944 Luscombe Silvaire Model 8-A Standar 1958 Luscombe Silvaire Model 8-E Oil Capacity 4 quarts 4.5 quarts Performance Do Not Exceed Speed 126 Knots-glide or dive 100 Knots-level 126 Knots-glide or dive 100 Knots-level Max. Structural Cruising Speed N/A N/A 24 more rows WebLuscombe-8C 1940; 75hp Continental A-75-8J with fuel injection; load: 480# v: 118/107/40 range: 340. The narrow landing gear make for rather unforgiving landings, but these are a hoot to fly. Perhaps that is because Luscombe was the first to completely enclose the engine within a cowl, a feat of development at a time when Aeronca and Piper were still cooling flat engines by leaving the cylinders out in the breeze and hoping for the best. The gear is stiff and narrow, yet the rudder is effective, as is the tailwheel. Luscombe 8A The general aviation aircraft is a high-wing, monoplanes with side-by-side seating. Sometimes a tail-SKID like the real early planes used was better. LUSCOMBE 8 SERIES For Sale - Used & New 1 - 5 - Trade-A Taxiing one in a stiff crosswind is work. No more white knuckles. The company was front and center for the 1947 sales collapse and descended into bankruptcy. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! Knowing the wings that are holding you up at 5000 feet are same ones that were on saw horses in your yard gives you pause to think about the quality of your work. WebItem specifics 1946 LUSCOMBE 8A TTAF:1068 LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT FOR SALE! Given the ruggedness of the metal aircraft, one would have thought that it would have joined the legions of Cubs, Champs, and other L-birds that served in so many roles and locations during the war. Gross wt. Find it here on craigslist for $4,750 and go here if the ad is archived. After all, the factory employees had received a practical education in crashworthiness be-cause for several years a major portion of the companys income came from re-building wrecked Phantoms. His is an original 8A with no electrical system. Been a Luscombe owner for a few years and have no complaints. I think a Taylorcraft has to be an eye-opening experience in the same vein. Subscribe to Our Site. How's that for fuel economy? The power-on or departure stall demands that the ball be kept in the center, or the airplane will roll briskly and drop the nose sharply at the break. He never went into production; rather, he overhauled, rebuilt, repaired, modified, obtained STCs for, and upgraded Luscombes from around the world. By First of all, there is just something cool about flying such a back to basics airplane. It is exciting because of its responsiveness in flight, yet it induces a healthy level of heightened alertness for its demands on the ground. WebLUSCOMBE 8A. It was not to be. Luscombe Questions - Backcountry Pilot If Moody Lar-sen did his magic and caused a 115- or 150-hp engine to be up front, climb rate can easily exceed 1,000 fpm. Wouldnt there be more damage to the prop and cabin area? Luscombe 8A - The Good, Bad and Ugly? : r/flying - Reddit WebThe Luscombe 8 is a series of high wing, side-by-side seating, monoplanes with conventional landing gear, designed in 1937 and built by Luscombe Aircraft . 1946 Luscombe 8A airworthiness of an aircraft or the current aircraft configuration. If the airplane is rigged correctly, it does not want to drop a wing; it just pitches down, straight ahead. His is an original 8A with no electrical system. No one has been able to explain it to me but a nose-gear naturally wants to move straight forward. However, salesmen will be salesmen, and Luscombe soon turned his engineers loose on the idea of wrapping a small, all-metal airplane around this engine. The He struggled with the landing roll every time, Hope you brought that extra pair of underwear with you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkDQBXH02fE. 1,200. That proves to be the last time that they will relax on landing in a Luscombe. The basic prewar 8 rapidly evolved into the 65-hp 8A, then the B, which had a 65-hp Lycoming; the C with a very rare, fuel-injected Continental of 75 hp (and the first to be advertised as a Silvaire); and, finally, in 1941, the D. The D had the same engine as the 8A and was targeted at the Civilian Pilot Training Program, which bought Luscombes in quantity until World War II got under way and general aviation manufacturing was stopped. The tailwheel is in clear view and should be examined carefully, for tailwheels have been known to break off. If the airplane is rigged correctly, it does not want to drop a wing; it just pitches down, straight ahead. For the first several takeoffs in a Silvaire, it is a good idea to use grass runways to take advantage of the drag on the tailwheel. The journey to restore this would be a busy one, mostly with getting it to comply with the FAA. Anybody else notice the 1956 date on the airworthiness certificate. I have flown the J-3 Cub, the Citabria and the Pitts Special and have never ground-looped. A Luscombe does not come close to being in that category. They have been the victims of unfairly critical accusations about their ground handling. Visibility over the nose is outstanding. Its clean lines belie its years. Runup takes only moments: Move the stick about to check the ailerons and elevators (after taxiing, the pilot should know if the rudder is properly attached), check the mags and carb heat (on some models the manual recommends landing and taking off with full carburetor heat), scrutinize the engine gauges, set the elevator trim, set such gyros as are installed, and line up with the runway. Sign up for our free daily email and youll never miss another find: Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases. WebThe Luscombe 8 was designed by Donald Luscombe and flown for the first time in 1937. 1946 Luscombe 8A Could be one of the lowest time Luscombe in the World! Maneuvering is precise. Flew a Luscombe 8A today In March 1939, the 8A, with a 65-hp Lycoming, and the 813, with a 65-hp Continental engine, were introduced. In March 1939, the 8A, with a 65-hp Lycoming, and the 813, with a 65-hp Continental engine, were introduced. Taking on an airplane project can be daunting, but there are many aviation enthusiasts that will tell you planes of this era are so blissfully simple that theres nothing to be afraid of. If I was small and wanted a 2 place taildragger, I would prefer a Taylorcraft. I have been flying tail draggers since 1954. Its an interesting alternative to a Cessna of the same era, and in their day, Luscombes were fairly advanced aircraft. Luscombe Aircraft itself went out of business in 1949. The best flying Light Sport Aircraft ever designed. Hey guys, take a look at yotube about a bad Luscombe landing out on the left coast. Luscombe Weight and Balance Full stall and wheel landings are a little deceptive in a Silvaire. Because more than 50 years have lapsed since most rolled off the assembly line, the idea of aerobatics in the airplane should be approached with extreme caution while contemplating the timeless question: How many times can you bend a tin can? Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. 1946 Luscombe 8A. Steep turns are such pleasure that it is difficult to stop. on board. Recovery is conventional and only requires the pilot to reduce back pressure on the stick rather than shove the nose down. Taxi of Luscombe 8A, and takeoffs and landings of this vintage taildragger airplane! All were sold to private owners who desired tandem seating and extraordinary visibility. Range 350. Or subscribe without commenting. Yes, a turbine has been hung on a Luscombe. No need to buy avgas ($5.60/gal.) The general aviation aircraft is a high-wing, monoplanes with side-by-side seating. It failed miserably in the market; only six were sold. The Luscombe 8A is a wonderful tailwheel airplane to fly, but will demand the utmost performance out of a pilot.#luscombe8a #tailwheel #thisoldpilotWebsite: https://www.thisoldpilot.comThis Old Pilot Disclaimer:This Old Pilot is about sharing and exploring flight and the sheer beauty and freedom it can give aperson who takes to the air. For those pilots taller than about five feet, 10 inches, boarding the Silvaire is challenging. This provided a cheaper and less complex design, and later changes to the vertical and horizontal stabilizers likewise simplified construction and sped production times up. Fuel Burn at 75% power in standard conditions per hour. As in a Greek tragedy, just as Don Luscombe reached his goal of mass-producing all-metal airplanes, the continuing effects of the Depression, constant lack of capital, and his financial shenanigansincluding failure to repay loans and creative use of stockcaught up with him. Perhaps that is because Luscombe was the first to completely enclose the engine within a cowl, a feat of development at a time when Aeronca and Piper were still cooling flat engines by leaving the cylinders out in the breeze and hoping for the best. 1946 Luscombe 8A. unless you dont fly regularly. I don't really know any different either. WebLUSCOMBE 8A $27,000 Reg# N71288 TT: Not Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A, Only 5 hours since Ly-Con Overhaul. how and where, and finding ultralight about as exciting as watching an arthritic aged porcupine cross road gave up on flying,, off the ground anyways. RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks. Your feet will MOVE on every take If Moody Larsen did his magic and caused a 115- or 150-hp engine to be up front, climb rate can easily exceed 1,000 fpm. That is somewhat optimistic. Jamestown, New York 14701 . WebFor something between $15,000 and $21,000 and the willingness to learn to fly the airplane, the Luscombe can be a most enjoyable personal magic carpet. The airplane is approved for day and night VFR/IFR operations when properly equipped and certified. With appropriate equipment it is a passable IFR airplane, although range and en-durance can be a little short when trying to reach an alternate. Franklin did make a 2 cylinder for the 1970s Champs. Was this a successor to the Luscombe Silvaire that I remember as a kid? $2,795; POP: 278. 1946 Luscombe 8A - Plane & Pilot Magazine This is the 1st of your 3 free articles Become a member for unlimited website access and more. Those who have flown Luscombes for a time have learned that because the controls are very responsive, even at fairly low speeds, the aircraft can handle very stiff crosswinds. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. It's a different kind of flying and different challenges and rewards too. It managed to sell about 80 8Fs before collapsing in 1960. Luscombe 8A The gear is also narrow. The final models of the 8F were produced by Silvaire Aircraft Co. between 1946 and 1960 when their production was discontinued permanently. In 1937, Continental Motors approached Luscombe with a new 50-horsepower, four-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine. To everyones pleasure, the little powerplant became reliable enough to use on an airplane. This upgraded 8A entered production in June 1940, and immediately became a best-seller, was first of the breed to be referred to as Silvaire. N1005K (1946) N1013K (1946) N1015K (1946) N1029K (1946) N1034K (1946) N1035K (1946) N1040K (1946) N1042K; N1045K (1946) N1046K (1946) N1057K (1946) N1064K At the time, the company president and largest stockholder turned out not to be a U.S. citizen, but an Austrianwhich did not endear the company to the Army in the wake of the Anschluss. As World War II wound down, Luscombe moved its factory to Garland, Texas, and decided to resurrect the basic 8A. Lust for a Luscombe In 1955 the type certificate was sold to an organization in Colorado. He left Mono Aircraft, maker of the speedy Monocoupes, to set up his own company in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1933. Exterior and Interior 6/10. However, this data alone does not provide the basis for a determination regarding the. Luscombe 8 - AOPA - Aircraft Owners and Pilots But a tail-dragger wants to switch ends and put the tail first. Weight and balance data missing? 8A EASY PROJECT $8,500 By Staff Updated February 22, 2016 Save Article. Almost unique. The Luscombe 8A aircraft is a high-wing monoplane released in 1940 and it is part of Luscombes 8 series. The critical next step is to pick out a point beyond the departure end of the runway, straight ahead of the airplane, and resolve to keep the airplane pointed at that spot no matter what happens. The 8E also featured a more powerful engine over the prior years with 85 b.h.p. Continental A65-8, 2840 TTSN, No Electrical or Transponder, Read more about avoiding scams and protecting your money. They landed sideway with a drift and it did not ground loop. Slowing to speeds just above the stall demonstrates that the controls, particularly the rudder, remain effective. Garmin GPS Map 296, MX11 COMM plus back up hand held unit. On a positive note, the current Luscombe Aircraft Company of Las Vegas, Nevada, has upgraded the design and anticipates selling a 185-hp nosewheel version to be called the Model 11E. Theres a bunch of birds around here that were in a lot worse shape than this one when their restoration was started. STANDARD DATA: (8-A) Seats 2. The aircraft has a cruise speed of 78 knots and a stall speed of 37 knots. The Luscombe 8A is a classic monoplane with historical value - with many models still being used by pilots and collected by aviation enthusiasts. The Luscombe 8A aircraft is a high-wing monoplane released in 1940 and it is part of Luscombes 8 series. I have time in one of these. Those who have flown Luscombes for a time have learned that because the controls are very responsive, even at fairly low speeds, the aircraft can handle very stiff crosswinds. The Howard is not an easy aircraft nor is the Gull Wing Stinson. Fairly large quantities of fuel in the fuselage tend to give most pilots the heebie-jeebies, so the wing tanks are an im-provement, despite the substantial concern Luscombe showed in 1937 for crashworthiness in designing and protecting the original fuselage tank. The engine rebuild alone will set you back about $15,000. Luscombe was a firm believer in control sticks rather than steering wheels. Its an interesting alternative to a Cessna of the same era, and in their day, Luscombes were fairly advanced aircraft. See the original article: Lust for a Luscombe Most Luscombes now have 12.5-gallon fuel tanks in each wing, converting to the style of the later marques and away from the original 14-gallon tank behind the seat. The gear is housed in tapered fairings and the shock-absorption mechanism is located inside the airframe, so there is little drag and little to inspect other than the brakes. That radio should be in a museum. I own both a Lotus Esprit and an Europa and they both have a bigger cockpit than this plane. After greasing the airplane onto the runway, they sometimes make the mistake of thinking that they can relax once they are on the ground. Total Time Aircraft: 1068 hours. Luscombe Aircraft Company created the expensive two-place, radial-engine Phantom, whose ground handling was so awful that more than one buyer canceled the sale after taking his first flight. Returning to the field for To consider a flight in a Luscombe after being away from them for a time generates equal parts anticipation and trepidation. Bluntly speaking, the cabin is just plain small by todays standards. ( minimum altitude, I think) I like the quick disconnect wings. Luscombes Model 8 Silvaire first appeared in 1937, and the first 50-hp production models were on the market in 1938. The newest member of the fleet: A 1946 Luscome Silvaire. You will cement your skills with a luscombe and all others will seem like a cake walk. I watched as one attempted a crosswind landing, it got on the ground ok but before getting off the runway, a wing picked up and it flipped sideways. The 8A wasnt that much more prone to the ground lomcevak than a Cessna 120/140 series. 1949 Packard Super Deluxe Eight LWB Sedan17 hours$700Bid Now, 1995 Buick Riviera Supercharged3 days$2,000Bid Now, 1963 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible3 days$1,550Bid Now. Engine 65-hp Lycoming. 3301 Turner Road. He left Mono Aircraft, maker of the speedy Monocoupes, to set up his own company in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1933. Shaking a wing during the walkaround inspection reminds one that the Silvaire is remarkably strong. Most Luscombes now have 12.5-gallon fuel tanks in each wing, converting to the style of the later marques and away from the original 14-gallon tank behind the seat. WebIt's actually an excellent plane for a low time tail wheel pilot. Not many of them around, compared to a Cessna 140 or a Piper Super Cub. Here are some of the specific's: Year: 1946 Engine: C-65 with 112 Hours Airframe: 1,400 Wind Generator The biggest problem with tail-draggers is landing in a crosswind. There's quite a difference flying a low wing loading older light plane from a high wing loading one that pretty much punches through the winds and turbulence. Continental, determined to make the engine work, added a second magneto and set of spark plugs, provided for carburetor heat, and made some other changes. We crafted our line to include packages to Don Luscombe worked much of his adult life to develop and market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost constant financial crisis in the process. airworthiness of an aircraft or the current aircraft configuration. Maneuvering is precise. The EAA chapters are a big asset for restorers as well. Visibility over the nose is outstanding. The electrical system, with a 12 volt storage battery, is fully protected by thermal-type circuit-breakers and switches. Please post more of them. I have owned two Luscombes aircraft,Cessnas, pipers,Bellanca and never ground looped one of them. The 8A seats up to 1 passengers plus 1 pilot. 8A Production was resumed after the war with allmetal versions of the Silvaire, the 8E and 8F. It just seems like such a deal ,less then 5K for an airplane, makes you almost think, I could do this, and then reality creeps in and you know it is just the tip of the iceberg of an adventure you probably cant afford! LUSCOMBE 8A Sign in to continue reading 1946 Luscombe 8A By Staff Updated February 22, 2016 Save Article Whats Going On with Cessna Denali Turboprop. Well, I guess I asked for it (planes, battleships,etc. LSA were SUPPOSSED to cost 50K. A Bellanca Citabria is considered an easy tailwheel airplane to handle on landing. While it may be nothing but showmanship, the Silvaire can make a good pilot look very good and let the pilot flying it have a ball. WebFind N71881 1946 LUSCOMBE 8A on Aircraft.com. Otherwise these are great Art Deco pieces of art that look super hanging in your hangers rafterswhere most can be found. Location: Sanford NC. Thanks for subscribing! About 1,000 Silvaires were built between the first part of 1938 and the early months of 1942.