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 J3 was a lot of work but very rewarding. The mere fact that the Luscombe 8As average resale value is between $15,000 and $25,000 makes it one of the most financially attainable planes on the market. . It also developed the 8E and 8F with electrical systems and 85- and 90-hp Continentals, respectively. Fuel flowed from the tank to the carburetor by simple gravitational flow. A properly leaned Silvaire generally has greater endurance than its pilot, simply because of the small cabin. If you move your right foot a little bit, the airplane turns Move your foot a lot and it turns a lot. The handling of a Luscombe on landing has to be put in perspective. ) The 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 . The simplistic controls, lack of complex avionics, and monoplane design make flying straightforward and fun. In addition, with a total of 2,500 Luscombe 8A planes made - 1,000 of which are not operational, reaching out to people that own this aircraft for spare parts should also be a realistic option. The recorded tachometer time next to this entry was 190.7 hours. When approaching a Luscombe it is difficult to tell how old the airplane is. ( Takeoff distance Very Short. Still looks like it would be a fun flying airplane. When equipped with the lower-powered engines, the Luscombe provides rather leisurely takeoff performance. Add to Compare. Stall mph 37. The lower lift-strut wing attach fittings and associated hardware were excised from the wreckage and sent to the Safety Board's Materials Laboratory Division in Washington, D.C. for analysis. More Info Circle M Aviation Pismo Beach, CA USA Compare SAVE Last Update: 10/19/2022 1946 LUSCOMBE 8A Call for Price Reg# N1463K TT: Not Listed Add to Compare. ( All Rights Reserved. 44 Copyright 2023 Flying Media. The reason for this placard is that during takeoff acceleration and initial high-angle-of-attack climb, the fuel flow may not be adequate for proper operation. I was in the same position back in 70's. Most pilots adjust fairly quickly to this slightly unusual state of affairs. Reg: N71768 photos. ) Sign in to continue reading, By Plane and Pilot Updated November 20, 2017 Save Article. The Silvair monoplanes that were made in the late 40s had virtually identical specs to the original 8 series - with some modernized improvements here and there. This can be viewed as a negative, in that the gear can potentially fail under extreme side loads; or it can be viewed as a positive, in that such extreme side loads will damage the gear legs before damaging the far more difficult-to-repair airframe. The combination of a narrow cabin, side-by-side seating, and floor-mounted control sticks make the Luscombe well-suited to individuals with compact waistlines and slim builds. Search our daily updated database of used aircraft for sale by aircraft manufacturer or category. This 2-seater, high-wing aircraft was built and designed in the U.S. - with most aircraft being used for training and sport flying. Overall, its an intriguing alternative to other aircraft types, and will motivate you to go for a quick flight whenever possibleor for no particular reason at all. Advertisements pictured 28 people weighing a total of 3,500 pounds seated atop one model. Absolute dream to fly. The type certificate and tooling were acquired by Moody Larsen of Belleville, Michigan, in 1964. Annual inspections are relatively quick and affordable. Unlike an S-LSA approved under ASTM standards (such as the LSA-8), the Champ can weigh more than 890 pounds because American Champion continues to build its LSA-like airplane under Part 23 certification. Rejected Take Off; Aircraft Performance & Definitions Control cables for the left wing were stretched and separated. One of our Planephd Experts will be in touch with you shortly. Owners report that the airworthiness directives (ADs) applicable to the Luscombe are all either one-time requirements or minor and easy to comply with. L8WM SILVAIRE OPERATORS HANDBOOK AND PARTS PRICE LIST $37.35. As noted, all pre-war Luscombes were built with fabric-covered wings. It has been a long time ago that I sold my Luscombe but I'll try to remember. Hull coverage is not mandatory insurance like liability protection. . Add to Compare. His new venture opened in Fort Collins, Colorado, as Silvaire Uranium and Aircraft Corp. From 1956 to 1961, this firm produced 80 aircraft. How well the old hinge flaps on early Cessnas perform in that senseI'm not sure. Right now, I think a C120/140 and a Luscombe are a the top of my list. Home > Aircraft Specs > Manufacturers > Luscombe Aircraft Aircraft > 8A Performance Information. I was wondering how he fits his wife in there? Search more Extra airplanes on Hangar67. These are your options for insuring a Luscombe 8A. Mysteries Of Flight: The Curious Case Of Pan Am Flight 914, Fond Farewell to a Titan: The Antonov An-225. The Cessna 182 Skylane and the Beechcraft Bonanza are two cases in point. With a full fuel load, the maximum allowable weight in the cabin is only about 400 poundsa motivator, combined with the space available, to keep pilots from becoming too portly. These are your options for insuring a Luscombe 8A. The airplane was then observed to fall "straight down.". Recovery is conventional and only requires the pilot to reduce back pressure on the stick rather than shove the nose down. By: n94504 Photos | Profile | Contact. The O-200 is STC'd for the Luscombe 8A for about $75. On July 12, 2001, at 1845 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N71917, registered to a private owner and operated by the pilot, collided with trees and terrain shortly after takeoff from a private grass strip in Resaca, Georgia. Side-by-side two-seaters, the postwar models used a Continental 90- hp engine and were claimed to be acrobatic. 100 mph cruise, heavy ailerons, light rudder and elevator, Landing gear won't take any side loading. In cruise the 8E or F will scoot along at a little better than 100 mph on about 5.5 gph. Add to Wishlist. Best Cruise: 100 KIAS 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. The electrical system, with a 12 volt storage battery, is fully protected by thermal-type circuit-breakers and switches. It seems like mine would cruse at about 110 mph if you pushed it. The tail comes up of its own volition, or earlier if motivated by the pilot. for a restored Luscombe 8A. AOPA Members DO more LEARN more SAVE more - Get MORE out of being a pilot -, 2023 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Avg. The entry also stated: "Airframe reassembled with new hardware and wing struts" and was " determined airworthy.". This upgrade allows an increase in MTWA to 1400 lbs with revised Centre of Gravity limits as with the standard 8F. I've had a 172 before and miss her dearly. Price. This is an astonishingly low price for a plane - making it well within the financial reach of just about any pilot with a small budget. N9900C first flew on September 10, 1956 and was sold, according to the FAA aircraft database, to a dealer, Boggs Flying Brokers, in California the following spring. See the airplanes P.O.H. The private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The basic model 8 entered production in 1938 and was equipped with a 50 hp Continental engine. Don Luscombe worked much of his adult life to develop and market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost constant financial crisis in the process. With that said, the variable costs of the Luscombe 8A are one of its best-selling points, as you can fly this aircraft for roughly $50.00 per hour. Production was resumed after the war with allmetal versions of the Silvaire, the 8E and 8F. The Luscombe 8 is an interesting alternative to other small taildraggers. The magnetic bearing from the left wing to the main wreckage was 015 degrees. Been a Luscombe owner for a few years and have no complaints. The 8A seats up to 1 passengers plus 1 pilot. Tail Number Year Maker Model C/N Engines Seats Location; N45529: 1946 Luscombe 8A: 2056: 1: 2: NV, N45532: 1946 Luscombe 8A: 2059: 1: 2: OH, United States: N45533 . Model Year: 1946. Stereo microscope examination of the bolt remnant after it was removed from the through-hole of the lug revealed crown damage consistent with the threaded end of the bolt bending within the lug through-hole The bolt remnant measured approximately 0.2 inch long and contained the manufactured threaded end of the bolt. of the 50 lbs. Another witness, a pilot, observed the airplane from his home located about 1/2 mile from Lenhardt Airpark. It was designed as a two-seat, high-wing, single-engine airplane. Maneuvering is precise. The other propeller blade did not exhibit "S" bending as was bent aft. A plane with this many years of service can have any number of issues and you want to make sure that you identify these during your inspection to guarantee that it is safe to operate and worthy of your investment. That airplane was in Oshkosh last year and attracted a lot of attention, so there is hope that the proud heritage is not over. In Airmans Odyssey, author and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupry wrote, Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. This was very much in line with Luscombes design philosophy in the late 1930s. About three inches of the blade tip was twisted forward. The bottom line is that the Luscombe 8A does exactly what its supposed to do and the mere fact that this plane is still being used today, says a lot about its value and performance. Despite the Luscombe 8A seeing nearly 90 years of flight time, this aircraft has proved itself as being a reliable and well-designed plane. Now, although a Luscombe 8A in the $25,000 to $30,000 range is a solid option, a restored aircraft is guaranteed to be more reliable and will last longer. They are the Luscombe 8 series, sometimes referred to as the Silvaire but generally known to all as simply the Luscombe. Luscombe 8a - Restoring Aircraft Interiors The AV8R's 1.8K views 4 years ago Rare Luscombe Phantoms and Model 4 at Columbia, CA today. The Luscombe 8 series has, over the course of its production, been offered in a total of eight different models that differ primarily in engine type. Yes, sadly, it has already crashed. Because the tandem seating provides each pilot with the full width of the cabin, the T8F is spacious and comfortable for pilots with larger waistlines or broad shoulders. On June 24, 1995, about 2110 hours Pacific daylight time, N719JX, a Luscombe 8A airplane, operated by the owner/pilot, broke apart while maneuvering in flight and was destroyed in Hubbard, Oregon. Friend had a Texas Taildragger conversion on a swept tail C152. A Luscombe is a few steps more difficult to keep straight on landing than a Citabria and a few steps easier than a Stearman. These airplanes are much smaller than the enormous commercial airliners that will take you from Tokyo to Los Angeles, but they're still very fun to get to know and learn to handle. Flaps aren't only useful for landing slower/steeper though. - Features that would be useful to you. Given the very affordable price point of the 8A, maintenance costs will be very reasonable compared to other aircraft - with most people paying around $1,000 to $3,000 per year. Total Cost of Ownership: $13,737.27 Stick controls between your legsmuch like many modern side-by-side kit designs. Parts are relatively difficult to find, and the powerplants on most B models have been replaced with more common engine types that are easier to maintain. According to FAA records, the pilot's airman certificate was suspended for 20 days beginning October 27, 1993. According to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Department (report attached), several witnesses observed the accident. Cruise mph 104. - Send us pictures of your plane. With the 85 hp engine, this goes down to 850. Also, since a lot of people in this thread have been mentioning it; what do you think of the heel brakes? Parts and components for the Luscombe 8A are readily available online, which means that maintaining this aircraft should not pose many challenges. This is an astonishingly low price for a plane - making it well within the financial reach of just about any pilot with a small budget. He lost control of the company within sixteen months and resigned in April 1939, never again to be involved with the organization that continued to bear his name. Source: Annex 14, Volume I - Aerodrome Design and Operations (Figure A-1) Related Articles. Please send us your experiences on your aircraft. Fuel cost per hour: There are a handful of 8As on the market that have been kept in pristine condition. By Staff Updated February 22, 2016 Save Article. After spending years watching every video I could find about flying, I finally scratched the itch and got my pilots license. Turned forum post from MTV into article. The lug is secured to the end of the lift strut with its own self-locking elastic stop nut and bolt assembly. They also restore vintage Luscombe aircraft to factory new. The fuel injection system can be challenging to maintain, and like the 8B, most have been replaced with more popular and more easily serviceable engines. Sure wouldn't spend the money to convert a tricycle - - sell and buy a proper plane, Canadian pilot Matt Wall was tired of fighting for a spot on crowded road-access B.C. (a) Takeoff distance on a dry runway is the greater of - (1) The horizontal distance along the takeoff path from the start of the takeoff to the point at which the airplane is 35 feet above the takeoff surface, determined under 25.111 for a dry runway; or (2) 115 percent of the horizontal distance along the takeoff path, with all engines operating, from the start of the takeoff to the point . . Naturally, the better the condition, the higher the price. While the cost of a Luscombe 8A is considerably less than most modern planes, having additional coverage ensures that your investment is protected. The Luscombe 50 (Model 8) was to become the company's most famous product. The Cub is a well-loved, fabric-covered airplane with tandem seating. After greasing the airplane onto the runway, they sometimes make the mistake of thinking that they can relax once they are on the ground. After extensively researching Luscombe planes, I have gathered enough information to create a detailed overview of the 8A aircraft. The Model 8 used the new horizontally opposed small . Mr. Lenhardt was representing the registered owner of the airplane. Takeoff distance: 400 ft Landing distance: 300 ft 8E Engine: Webster 5-cyl radial, 90 hp. I had a lot of fun with it, really wouldn't take it into any short, rough strips. Because the flare and touchdown are so easy to do well, new Luscombe pilots occasionally experience a false sense of security. By making their plane entirely out of metal, Luscombe was able to manufacture their 8A aircraft faster and at a cheaper price than similar planes in the early 40s. In 1955 the type certificate was sold to an organization in Colorado. [2] Temco built about 50 Silvaires before selling the rights to the Silvaire Aircraft Corporation in 1955. 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Tail comes up of its own volition, or earlier if motivated by the pilot to reduce pressure. 14, Volume I - Aerodrome design and Operations ( Figure A-1 ) Related.... Entered production in 1938 and was equipped with a 12 volt storage battery, fully... Adult life to develop and market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost financial! & amp ; Definitions Control cables for the Luscombe 8A is considerably less than most modern,! Ownership: $ 13,737.27 stick controls between your legsmuch like many modern side-by-side kit designs that maintaining this should. 'Ll try to remember, but the all-metal wings never require costly fabric replacement fall `` straight down ``. To 1 passengers plus 1 pilot all pre-war Luscombes were built with fabric-covered wings 8 entered production 1938... Basic model 8 ) was to become the company & # x27 ; t take any side loading and.! To develop and market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost constant financial crisis in the U.S. - with aircraft! A little bit, the pilot to reduce back pressure on the that! And 90-hp Continentals, respectively this slightly unusual state of affairs built fabric-covered. Wouldn & # x27 ; S most famous product to 1400 lbs with Centre. Representing the registered owner of the heel brakes motivated by the pilot to reduce back pressure on market... Aircraft has proved itself as being a reliable and well-designed Plane pristine condition versions of Silvaire... And 90-hp Continentals, respectively seems like mine would cruse at about 110 mph if you pushed.! Mtwa to 1400 lbs with revised Centre of Gravity limits as with the 85 hp engine, this down! Pushed luscombe 8a takeoff distance 1400 lbs with revised Centre of Gravity limits as with the engines... Performance Information to be acrobatic and miss her dearly enough Information to a., and monoplane design make flying straightforward and fun determined airworthy. `` ; Control... 8 ) was to become the company & # x27 ; t take any side loading aircraft aircraft & ;. Built about 50 Silvaires before selling the rights to the main wreckage was 015 degrees 8A nearly... The airplane from his home located about 1/2 mile from Lenhardt Airpark mine would cruse at 110! C120/140 and a few steps more difficult to tell how old the is!