Turned forum post from MTV into article. Recovery is conventional and only requires the pilot to reduce back pressure on the stick rather than shove the nose down. gained in a labor and dollar intensive conversion. My Uncle had a C 120 with an O 200 and he could take me, but not by much. All rights reserved. 12.22.2013 - Initial article format Operating aircraft on skis and negotiating a snow-covered landscape is an entirely unique skillset and environment. Each offer sits own individual blend of strengths and weaknesses. Alaska list NTSB Factual Report On July 17, 2002, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Luscombe 8A airplane, N45796, sustained substantial damage when it collided with water during takeoff from a private airstrip, about 31 miles east of Cordova, Alaska. I had a lot of fun with it, really wouldn't take it into any short, rough strips. With 65 hp under the hood at maximum gross weight, 1,050 feet is required for the takeoff roll and 1,950 feet is required to clear a 50-foot obstacle. That is why you can still find a lot of Luscombe 8A planes and 8 series aircraft models in the hands of private collectors and pilots. Mine was all metal, don't know anything about the rag wing, some say the rag wing is faster. According to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Department (report attached), several witnesses observed the accident. Flying may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Here, its possible to find well-sorted examples and some that have been upgraded with more powerful engines. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The examination of the left lift-strut attach point revealed that the attachment bolt was bent upward along the forward portion of the grip, and fractured along the aft threaded area at a drilled hole. of the 50 lbs. The Cessna 182 Skylane and the Beechcraft Bonanza are two cases in point. I figure a Luscombe can scratch 90% of the itches, and I can rent for the rest. Don Luscombe worked much of his adult life to develop and market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost constant financial crisis in the process. 150-horse upgrades have more steam but sell for quite a bit more money & are usually quite a bit heavier too. Whenever you consider buying an older plane, one of the key factors that should influence your decision is how difficult it is to find spare parts. 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. 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. Best Cruise: 100 KIAS If the airplane is rigged correctly, it does not want to drop a wing; it just pitches down, straight ahead. Luscombe 8A Custom Map Boxes And Wood Panel Cover. Because the O-200 powered airplane can climb "nose up", it will need a wing tank for takeoff and aggressive climbs to maintain fuel pressure. The next day he joined other competitors in flying a local air show; Giles Henderson in his clipped wing cub, Herb Cox flying his "Drunk Farmer Stole a Cub" routine, Jerry Spear and Charlie Wells flying their Added new article from Ravi Fry One of our Planephd Experts will be in touch with you shortly. 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. A softer touch is required in the Luscombe, and when making rudder inputs, one must think in terms of millimeters rather than inches. Continental A-65-8F, McCauley 1-B-90 prop, new interior, hanger kept. More often than not, an 8A bought at this price will need some form of restoration - either soon or immediately after your purchase. Visibility over the nose is outstanding. This aircraft is reliable, affordable, and easy to fly, which means that it is definitely worth buying provided that it meets your expectations. Takeoff distance (50) 1,950. Hands down the Luscombe, IMO. Luscombe Aircraft itself went out of business in 1949. The rudder has a relatively short throw, so a pilot used to more travel or less responsive rudders may overcontrol a bit at first. Luscombe 8a - Restoring Aircraft Interiors The AV8R's 1.8K views 4 years ago Rare Luscombe Phantoms and Model 4 at Columbia, CA today. Testing observed by the CAA in 1940 showed that Luscombe Model 8A airplanes could lose power during takeoff or climb with 10 gallons or less fuel in the 14-gallon tank. Luscombe Aircraft 8A - Performance Data. Luscombe-8 aka 50 1938 ; 50hp Continental A-50; span: 35'0" length: 20'0" (NOTE: All Luscombe 8-series aircraft had the same dimensions) load: 480 v: 107/94/37 range: 360. That is not the case for the Luscombe 8A, as this is one of the most affordable planes available. 100 mph cruise, heavy ailerons, light rudder and elevator, Landing gear won't take any side loading. According to the recorded tachometer time at the accident site, the accident occurred 91.12 flight hours after the rebuild work in 1993, and 6.32 hours after the most recent annual inspection three months prior to the accident. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 for personal reasons. STANDARD DATA: (8-A) Seats 2. Bluntly speaking, the cabin is just plain small by todays standards. Other Luscombe models meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft, including the 8, 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D. - Send us pictures of your plane. This entry was the last entry in the logbook and documented the most recent annual inspection. The Luscombe 8A is a classic monoplane with historical value - with many models still being used by pilots and collected by aviation enthusiasts. Will This Perfect Day for Flying Go Unpunished. Parts and components for the Luscombe 8A are readily available online, which means that maintaining this aircraft should not pose many challenges. Engine 65-hp Lycoming. This listing was posted on Dec 19, 2022. This price can fluctuate depending on your flight experience, as well as the condition of your Luscombe 8A. ( The make and model for all 80 was Silvaire 8F, with "Luscombe" shown in quotation marks in company literature. The Luscombes useful load (approximately 540 pounds) needs to be considered also. Source: Annex 14, Volume I - Aerodrome Design and Operations (Figure A-1) Related Articles. McCauley metal prop. An autopsy was performed on the pilot by Dr. Larry V. Newman, M.D., of the Oregon State Police, Medical Examiner Division, Portland, Oregon, on June 26, 1995. I don't really know any different either. Sign in to continue reading, By Plane and Pilot Updated November 20, 2017 Save Article. While there have been a number of crashes with the Luscombe 8A since it was first released, this is still considered to be a safe and reliable plane to fly. Owners report that the airworthiness directives (ADs) applicable to the Luscombe are all either one-time requirements or minor and easy to comply with. 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. Most aircraft of the day featured tandem seating (one seat placed behind the other) while the 8 featured side-by-side seating, with control sticks instead of yokes. The Cub is a well-loved, fabric-covered airplane with tandem seating. According to the Metallurgist's Factual Report dated September 26, 1995 (attached): Visual examination of the fuselage attachment fitting assembly for the lift strut of the left wing revealed that [the] bolt fractured at the threaded end. 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. Piper J-4 thru PA-22 and PA-25. The Luscombe 50 (Model 8) was to become the company's most famous product. Already a member? Horsepower for takeoff: The right wing and empennage remained attached to the airframe. A properly leaned Silvaire generally has greater endurance than its pilot, simply because of the small cabin. Very tail heavy, guess some would install plates to move mains back a bit - - the designer didn't want any risk of going over onto the nose with hard braking. The lift struts are essential in keeping the wings secured to the airframe during flight. Luscombe pilots have broken off tailwheels on bumpy fields and discovered that they could fly home, make a wheel landing, apply a little brake and power, then taxi to the ramp while holding the tail in the air. (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 . Its not everyones cup of tea, though, and for nearly half the price, similarly fun stick-and-rudder flying can be had in the Luscombe 8. Control cable continuity of all tail flight control surfaces and the right wing were verified. Overall, its the simplicity of the airplane that makes it among the easiest to own and maintain. If you take care of your 8A, it will retain its resale value and also ensure your safety, which is why any pilot considering this aircraft should be prepared for routine upkeep. The right wing lift-strut attach fitting assembly remained intact and was examined for comparison purposes. LUSCOMBE SILVAIRE SLSA -8 CONTINENTAL 0-200D 100 H.P. Takeoff distance: 1,050 FT Landing distance: 450 FT Takeoff distance over 50ft obstacle: 1,950 FT Landing distance over 50ft obstacle: 1,540 FT Weights Gross Weight: 1,260 LBS Empty Weight: 750 LBS Fuel capacity: 14 GAL Ownership Costs 1946 Total Cost of Ownership: $12,300.74 Total Fixed Cost $3,477.16 Annual inspection cost: $669.00 Storage: Rotation speed is about 55 mph. The examination revealed that the end of the lift-strut attachment bolt was not completely threaded through the self-locking nut. Richard Parkhouse | Little Gransden. Total Cost of Ownership: $13,737.27 Don't know if I can wait - but think that is the best way to go. He dropped progressively larger engines into the tough, diminutive airframes until, by the late 1960s, 150-hp stud brutes were rocketing off of the grass at Larsen Field. Kinda like a C140 but with barndoor flaps, the later ones have bucket seats, and all metal in case ya can't swing a hangar.These can sometimes be found for reasonable prices & if kept light perform pretty well even with the stock O-200. 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 . my Luscombe is the only plane I've flown. N9900C, serial number S-1, was built in 1956. Judging from the performance of a couple of friends' Luscombes, I believe a good fabric wing 65-horse 8A will perform right with the average 85 horse 140. 337 1,200. In 1947, the company introduced reinforced Silflex landing gear that was stronger laterally. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. The final models of the 8F were produced by Silvaire Aircraft Co. between 1946 and 1960 when their production was discontinued permanently. Of these 402 accidents, there were 211 fatalities. A detailed examination of both the right and left wing lift- strut fuselage attach fittings was conducted at the accident site. The variable costs of operating a Luscombe 8A can vary depending on a number of different factors - mainly the cost of fuel, which is often up in the air. A properly leaned Silvaire generally has greater endurance than its pilot, simply because of the small cabin. The 8A is equipped with a Continental A-65-8 engine. About 1,000 Silvaires were built between the first part of 1938 and the early months of 1942. In both of these respects, the Luscombe 8 comes through in spades. 0.0 While other types offer their own strengths, such as off-airport capability or cross-country speed, the Luscombe offers a unique trip back in time to 1930s aviation, with nimble handling and affordable ownership. 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. 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. Examination of the fractured end of [the bolt] and remaining fractures revealed no preexisting cracks. $80.45 shipping. Most Luscombes use heel brakes. The electrical system, with a 12 volt storage battery, is fully protected by thermal-type circuit-breakers and switches. Immediate Climb Difference between climb and glide angle Zero Altitude lost in turn Very Small The dashed grey line coming from the 4,000 ft. runway distance is set at the glide angle of the plane. This site also participates in other affiliate programs including but not limited to ShareASale, CJ, and ClickBank, and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Six aircraft were built in 1957 (serial numbers S-2 through S7). These are the specs of the Luscombe 8A: Later models of the Luscombe 8 series had similar specs as the 8A, but more powerful engines were eventually installed - upgrading the Continental A-65hp to a 75hp. 0.9 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. Luscombe 8A 1946 Luscombe 8A Engine: Continental A65, 65hp Fuel type: 80 Propeller: Fixed/Pitch Landing gear type: Fixed/Conventional Max ramp weight:1260 lb Gross weight: 1260 lb . Aircraft: Luscombe 8A Silvaire. The Luscombe 8A is a classic monoplane with historical value - with many models still being used by pilots and collected by aviation enthusiasts. As the aviation industry continued to thrive and develop, newer, more powerful, and advanced planes rendered the Luscombe 8A and the 8 series outdated. 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. New Decal & Patch Available 79/01 - NTSB issue the final report into the fatal accident involving a Luscombe 8A, N2960K . Experienced Luscombe pilots recommend taxiing no faster than a brisk walk so as to keep things well under control. Once in the air the pilot discovers that the Silvaire has crisper handling than its tube-and-fabric brethren. Sheriff 's Department ( report attached ), several witnesses observed the accident - Initial article format aircraft! Todays standards fun with it, really wouldn & # x27 ; ll email you reset... Marks in company literature the bolt ] and remaining fractures revealed no preexisting.. Won & # x27 ; t take it into any short, strips. 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