For the sake of cost, there are two sticks but only one throttle, located in the center of the panel, so the command stick is held in ones left hand. The stall breaks cleanly. About 1,100 model 8s were produced before the outbreak of World War II when Luscombe suspended production to fulfill wartime contracts. WebYear: Not Listed Make/Model: LUSCOMBE 8A Registration #: N71288 Serial #: 2715 Location: Pismo Beach, CA USA $27,000 USD Circle M Aviation CALL (530) 305-4151 I accept the Trade-A-Plane terms of use & service: Send Email Stay safe. My dad bought a Luscombe 8A a few months ago but I finally got the chance to fly in it today with him when he came to help me work on the Venture. Most pilots adjust fairly quickly to this slightly unusual state of affairs. Over 6,000 postwar Silvaires were built, and more than 2,000 are currently rated airworthy. Its clean lines belie its years. Don Luscombe worked much of his adult life to develop and market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost constant financial crisis in the process. See the airplanes P.O.H. Fuel Burn at 75% power in standard conditions per hour. My first plane was a Cessna 150 purchased in a like disassembled condition. Yes, sadly, it has already crashed. Yes, a turbine has been hung on a Luscombe. I own both a Lotus Esprit and an Europa and they both have a bigger cockpit than this plane. Maneuvering is precise. Taken during high wind, it was a picture of a J3 Cub flying about 1 foot off the ground at the ends of its tie down ropes. His had the typical wrinkle in the skin aft of the main gear showing a hard landing or two. Stall mph 37. In January 1935, Luscombe moved his factory to West Trenton, New Jersey, where development started on the Model 90 (to be renamed the Model 4), another radial-engine machine with a lower price tag. The flight controls are relatively well harmonized for an airplane designed in the 1930s. Read more about avoiding scams and protecting your money. Start your free trial today! I love it, I remember these, however never flew one. See the original article: Lust for a Luscombe Gross wt. 1,200. Thanks for subscribing! Each aircraft is restored to uncompromising standards and unique specifications of each owner or buyer. That is somewhat optimistic. I don't know what prop was on this airplane, but it settled down to about 100 mph indicated at 2450 rpm, and I knew we were burning about 4-4.5 gallons per hour. Remember, Dave, there are two kinds of pilots who fly taildraggers: those who have ground-looped and those are GOING to. Taxi of Luscombe 8A, and takeoffs and landings of this vintage taildragger airplane! However, this data alone does not provide the basis for a determination regarding the. Continental A-65-A total time: 1068, SMOH 21 hours. Slowing to speeds just above the stall demonstrates that the controls, particularly the rudder, remain effective. Dumbest thing I ever did in aviation, but I got away with it. The gear is also narrow. It is exciting because of its responsiveness in flight, yet it induces a healthy level of heightened alertness for its demands on the ground. A65 engine 1243.9 SMOH. They are cable-actuated and must be adjusted at the brake mechanism itself. It managed to sell about 80 8Fs before collapsing in 1960. It failed miserably in the market; only six were sold. To everyones pleasure, the little powerplant became reliable enough to use on an airplane. Become a member to add images to your comments. Here are some of the specific's: Year: 1946 Engine: C-65 with 112 Hours Airframe: 1,400 Wind Generator The handling of a Luscombe on landing has to be put in perspective. A Bellanca Citabria is considered an easy tailwheel airplane to handle on landing. Tame compared to a Pitts S-1. Luscombe 11A Sedan. Last Annual, logs showed 2878 TT and 851 SMOH, Narco 810 Com and Narco AT 150 Transponder/no encoder or ADSB; no other avionics! Continental E-165-2 engine, 40 gallons fuel, 130 MPH. Thanks for including it!!! It also developed the 8E and 8F with electrical systems and 85- and 90-hp Continentals, respectively. List of aircraft registered in the United States with the manufacturer and model designation of LUSCOMBE 8A, ordered by tail number. Same 65 hp, but a bigger wing than Luscombe. They have been the victims of unfairly critical accusations about their ground handling. I read all the accident reports in Flying mags and others. 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. There was the usual painful litigation resolving little, so the Luscombe assembly line continued to lie dormant. The cowling opens to allow contemplation of the wonders within. Try 150K for a CTLS. WebAircraft for sale. Finally finished and flew it nearly 2000 hours including three coast to coast trips without a mishap due to a patient and thorough 10 hour check out. RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks. They exist because of the determination of an affable scalawag to create and mass-produce all-metal airplanes. Most pilots adjust fairly quickly to this slightly unusual state of affairs. The details are the stuff of disagreement even today, but it seems that the type certificate changed hands while money did not, so Larsen kept the tooling. Whats Going On with Cessna Denali Turboprop. The rudder has a relatively short throw, so a pilot used to more travel or less responsive rudders may overcontrol a bit at first. Sometimes a tail-SKID like the real early planes used was better. Full stall and wheel landings are a little deceptive in a Silvaire. Cruise mph 104. That's quite a change up from the Venture. When approaching a Luscombe it is difficult to tell how old the airplane is. This freed up some space within the cabin to create a small shelf for storage for the occupants. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! STANDARD DATA: (8-A) Seats 2. 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. 2023 FLYING Media. WebLUSCOMBE 8A. Those who have sat in the new Renaissance Luscombe and experienced the magic that John Larsen did to the interior are astonished that what had been cramped confinement is now far more comfortable. 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. Yes, a turbine has been hung on a Luscombe. The engine is a Continental Model C85-12 and is rated at 85 horsepower. Have all logs. All true, and the Gullwing is incredible but the Howard is better with its more common Pratt and Whitney R985. info@luscombeair.com. A Luscombe is a few steps more difficult to keep straight on landing than a Citabria and a few steps easier than a Stearman. 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 newest member of the fleet: A 1946 Luscome Silvaire. If the nose wanders a degree to the left or right, apply the necessary rudder to bring it back and keep it there. That airplane was in Oshkosh last year and attracted a lot of attention, so there is hope that the proud heritage is not over. Anybody else notice the 1956 date on the airworthiness certificate. Display name: Grum.Man. We crafted our line to include packages to Any a/c that qualifies as a LSA makes ownership a lot easier. John grew up in Luscombes, holds an A&P certificate, and has acquired the breadth of knowledge held by his father, who is now in failing health. If the airplane is rigged correctly, it does not want to drop a wing; it just pitches down, straight ahead. Im guessing its storm damage. Granted I know nothing about plane crashes (other than they are bad!) You found out that you have to fly it all the time in any kind of winds. Climb rate for the 8E and 8F was claimed to be 800 feet per minute. But a tail-dragger wants to switch ends and put the tail first. On a small grass strip four miles south of Henry Fords behemoth B-24 plant at Willow Run, Larsen lived, worked, and quietly became the Luscombe doctor. The experience of flying is wonderful, and when you gaze at the beauty below you, it provides a different perspective on life.I've been flying since 1978 and have been witness to numerous changes in aviation throughout the years. 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. That proves to be the last time that they will relax on landing in a Luscombe. 1946 Luscombe 8A. 3,738. Find the best new and used aircraft for sale such as business jets, helicopters, Experimental, Warbirds and more. The rudder has a relatively short throw, so a pilot used to more travel or less responsive rudders may overcontrol a bit at first. 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 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. 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. That radio should be in a museum. The gear is stiff and narrow, yet the rudder is effective, as is the tailwheel. When Renaissance Aircraft decided to start up the line with a 150-hp version of the 8F, it came to John Larsen and asked him to build the first one. Plane and Pilot builds on more than 50 years of serving pilots and owners of aircraft with the goal of empowering our readers to improve their knowledge and enthusiasm for aviation. However, this data Theres a bunch of birds around here that were in a lot worse shape than this one when their restoration was started. If I was small and wanted a 2 place taildragger, I would prefer a Taylorcraft. WebView 15 LUSCOMBE 8 For Sale Single engine piston aircraft with fixed landing gear. The handling of a Luscombe on landing has to be put in perspective. The general aviation aircraft is a high-wing, monoplanes with side-by-side seating. Production was resumed after the war with allmetal versions of the Silvaire, the 8E and 8F. WebJack Lane's Luscombe 8A 11 - INT - Mystery Plane.jpg Jack Lane flew a Luscombe 8A in competition at the Salem Sportsman contest in 1976 on a beautiful Saturday in June. Returning to the field for landing, plan on using carburetor heat when the power is reduced, then slow the airplane to about 65 to 70 mph on finalor slower if flying one with flaps. The seller notes this example comes with all logs since new. Find it here on craigslistfor $4,750 andgo here if the ad is archived. Maneuvering is precise. 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. About 1,000 Silvaires were built between the first part of 1938 and the early months of 1942. The airplane is powered by a horizontally opposed, four cylinder, direct drive, normally aspirated, air cooled, carburetor equipped engine. Well, I guess I asked for it (planes, battleships,etc. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. The brakes are actuated by independent floor pedals that were a marvel of innovation in their time. In 1980, an organization in Georgia sought to revive the production line and entered into an agreement with Larsen to buy the type certificate and tooling. The EAA chapters are a big asset for restorers as well. Depending on the model, loading (the maximum gross weight of all but the lowest-powered versions is 1,400 pounds), and temperature, acceleration ranges from sedate to brisk. Not many of them around, compared to a Cessna 140 or a Piper Super Cub. We crafted our line to include packages to meet all levels of interest, from day VFR to night VFR with a list of features for the most demanding pilot. The information contained in this record should be the most current Airworthiness information available in the historical aircraft record. In March 1939, the 8A, with a 65-hp Lycoming, and the 813, with a 65-hp Continental engine, were introduced. Nope. Great aircraft with a rich history. Taxiing one in a stiff crosswind is work. The 8A seats up to 1 passengers plus 1 pilot. 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. Oftentimes, the planes that show up on craigslist are worth talking about. And you can get an STC for using auto gas for a lot of light a/c. Rotation speed is about 55 mph. Continental C-65/75/85. The renamed Model 8 emerged from its brief gestation, someone spun the propeller, and it flew on the propitious date of December 17, 1937. ( by watching several ground loop videos, it seems they are coming in too fast) Contents 1 Background 1.1 Dallas, Texas 1.2 Chandler, Arizona 1.3 Gilbert, Arizona 1.4 Famous Owners 2 Variants 3 Specifications (Silvaire 8-F) 4 See also 5 References 6 External links The pancake engines, as they were called, had a reputation for unreliability, so Luscombe was justifiably skeptical of using one. The brakes are actuated by independent floor pedals that were a marvel of innovation in their time. A properly leaned Silvaire generally has greater endurance than its pilot, simply because of the small cabin. Fuel capacity 14. 2023 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Avg. Start your free trial today! Franklin did make a 2 cylinder for the 1970s Champs. It proved to be faster than its competition, albeit slightly less forgiving on the ground, despite having a much superior landing gear to that of the Phantom or Model 4. I have flown in them in the past as one of them belonged to a friend but all the comments about ground handling are true, weight capacity also true, fun to fly TOTALLY but damn it is a small airplane. 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. This 1947 Luscombe 8E is no different, and its located in Maine after having not known flown since 1977. 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. Climb rate for the 8E and 8F was claimed to be 800 feet per minute. 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! After greasing the airplane onto the runway, they sometimes make the mistake of thinking that they can relax once they are on the ground. They make it clear that they will not tolerate a milquetoast on the stick and rudder but will reward the pilot who truly knows how to operate those devices. Speaking of which, the engine could be a Franklin, same outfit that supplied engines to Tucker. So, I thought I would toss out some known numbers on this one particular Luscombe 8A with an A-65, Ceconite covered wings and a brand new PMA'd 14 gallon fuel tank. LSA were SUPPOSSED to cost 50K. Interesting pproject if capable, and yes flipped two, but buyer had best have all past ownership and flight records for gov, and especially other lower 48 pilots whose clannishness and nose in air is legendary, will gleefully screw you over. Please post more of them. For 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. WebItem specifics 1946 LUSCOMBE 8A TTAF:1068 LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT FOR SALE! The journey to restore this would be a busy one, mostly with getting it to comply with the FAA. Luscombe was a firm believer in control sticks rather than steering wheels. My dad bought a Luscombe 8A a few months ago but I finally got the chance to fly in it today with him when he came to help me work on the Venture. A properly leaned Silvaire generally has greater endurance than its pilot, simply because of the small cabin. That is somewhat optimistic. Difficulty in getting production up and running meant that Luscombe was late to the 1946 airplane-selling party and could not cash in as effectively as others, even though it eventually pushed 15 airplanes out the door each day. Even at the climb speed of 72 mph, the airplane answers control inputs nicely. 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 . 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. Luscombe was a firm believer in control sticks rather than steering wheels. 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. The aircraft is a two-place, high-wing, single-engine airplane, equipped with conventional landing gear. Initial climb rate 900. My answer is learn to fly the airplane or leave it in the hanger. This 1947 Luscombe 8E is no different, and its located in Maine after having not known flown since 1977. LOW TIME 1940 LUSCOMBE 8A $26,000 ACCEPTING OFFERS UC-90A Paint Scheme N25289, S/N 1195, 2166 TT completely restored starting in 2000, 40 They are the Luscombe 8 series, sometimes referred to as the Silvaire but generally known to all as simply the Luscombe. Luscombe aficionados point with pride to the numerous pictures of the airplanes with 16 to 20 people perched atop the wing. By 1960 over 5,800 aircraft has been produced by Luscombe Aircraft Corporation and subsequent companies. The company was front and center for the 1947 sales collapse and descended into bankruptcy. Rick Durden, AOPA PILOT, May 2000. ). All rights reserved. N1005K (1946) N1013K (1946) N1015K (1946) N1029K (1946) N1034K (1946) N1035K (1946) N1040K (1946) N1042K; N1045K (1946) N1046K (1946) N1057K (1946) N1064K Annual inspection 10/10/2022. Just updating the panel will cost most of what this old bird is worth. Mine is a 8E No more white knuckles. 1946 LUSCOMBE 8A $34,000 ACCEPTING OFFERS Cecilia is for sale. It also developed the 8E and 8F with electrical systems and 85- and 90-hp Continentals, respectively. This monoplane has a Continental A-65 (65hp) engine and In 1955 the type certificate was sold to an organization in Colorado. A Luscombe does not come close to being in that category. 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. The attractive, extremely strong, tailwheel two-place personal airplane came out of the factory for an initial price of $1,895. Total count: 890 aircraft. Ever. The preflight is without surprise or duplicity. Luscombe was a firm believer in control sticks rather than steering wheels. 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. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 110. 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. Landing distance (50) 1,540. The type certificate and tooling were acquired by Moody Larsen of Belleville, Michigan, in 1964. It's a different kind of flying and different challenges and rewards too. 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.