Statistically, every Luscombe still flying has had a ground loop, nose over or gear collapse. Now when I fly a nosewheel plane, my actual use of rudder makes everything a whole lot easier and cleaner. . Landing distance (50) 1,540. When new pilots and aircraft owners buy their first plane, they are often shocked by the variable costs that come with operating their aircraft. Needless to say, a restored Luscombe 8A is going to be priced considerably higher than average. I can feel one of my turns coming on, where owning an all-metal Luscombe 8A with no electrical system begins to sound like a good idea. Examination of the fractured end of [the bolt] and remaining fractures revealed no preexisting cracks. Initial climb rate 900. Other Luscombe models meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft, including the 8, 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D. Also thinking about a Luscombe. Naturally, the better the condition, the higher the price. Observation Facility, Elevation: F45,22 ft msl Observation Time: 12:30 Local Distance from Accident Site: 8 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 28C /19C Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots / 18 knots, 150 Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3600 ft AGL Visibility: 10 miles Altimeter Setting: 3020 inches Hg The witness then saw the airplane fly back towards the southwest about 800 to 1,000 feet above the ground. Full stall and wheel landings are a little deceptive in a Silvaire. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Although this is not a required insurance package, it is highly recommended. My Uncle had a C 120 with an O 200 and he could take me, but not by much. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! The 8A seats up to 1 passengers plus 1 pilot. Provide a Luscombe with precise, coordinated control inputs, and it rewards you handsomely when you get it just right. Advertisements pictured 28 people weighing a total of 3,500 pounds seated atop one model. By Staff Updated February 22, 2016 Save Article. 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 . Piper J-4 thru PA-22 and PA-25. 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 . Plus, they could come in handy for short-distance travel. Mysteries Of Flight: The Curious Case Of Pan Am Flight 914, Fond Farewell to a Titan: The Antonov An-225. No evidence of preimpact mechanical deficiencies was found. The handling of a Luscombe on landing has to be put in perspective. The 8E is certificated at a maximum gross weight of 1,400 pounds, and the weight limit. Most Luscombes use heel brakes. Six aircraft were built in 1957 (serial numbers S-2 through S7). A properly leaned Silvaire generally has greater endurance than its pilot, simply because of the small cabin. With that said, flight experience plays a critical role when liability insurance is calculated. - Send us pictures of your plane. The Luscombe 50 (Model 8) was to become the company's most famous product. 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. I was wondering how he fits his wife in there? Add to Compare. According to the Luscombe 8A Master Parts List (excerpts attached), the attachment hardware of the strut-to-fuselage attach point consists of two fuselage fittings, a single universal lug, an AN6-46A bolt (undrilled), an AN365-624 nut . Climb rate for the 8E and 8F was claimed to be 800 feet per minute. Ever. If the 8F has flaps and a C90, that would be a nice setup. Runway Excursion. (Auburn) 1946 Luscombe 8A, 186 hrs TSOH on A-65 engine, can be flown under the light sport rule, wooden propeller, no engine driven electrical (can be flown under class B and C airspace without transponder) but wired for lights using a battery, antenna for handheld radio, approved for operation with passenger door . Fuel Burn at 75% power in standard conditions per hour. Don Luscombe worked much of his adult life to develop and market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost constant financial crisis in the process. Compressions all 78 or higher Hand Prop Start 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. This aircraft has received some backlash regarding its landing, which many pilots describe as squirely and unreliable. Virtually no parts are prohibitively expensive to replace, and for the ultimate in simplicity, one can select an early model that lacks an electrical system altogether. 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. [2] Temco built about 50 Silvaires before selling the rights to the Silvaire Aircraft Corporation in 1955. Maneuvering is precise. No evidence was found to indicate a flight control deficiency. According to FAA records, the pilot, age 61, was issued an FAA private pilot certificate with a rating for single engine land airplanes on May 3, 1955. Copyright 2023 Flying Media. 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. However, you can expect very reasonable variable costs that range from $45.00 to $55.00 per hour. Visibility over the nose is outstanding. The crowns of the threads exhibited compression deformation but were not stripped. L8WM SILVAIRE OPERATORS HANDBOOK AND PARTS PRICE LIST $37.35. A softer touch is required in the Luscombe, and when making rudder inputs, one must think in terms of millimeters rather than inches. http://www.luscombe-silvaire.com/team_luscombe.aspx, Family Float Flying: Our Journey To Adventure, The Ultimate Boundary Waters Bush Flying Platform, Flying to Extremes: Memories of a Northern Bush Pilot, Water Dog The Amphibious Aviat Husky A-1C. They are the Luscombe 8 series, sometimes referred to as the Silvaire but generally known to all as simply the Luscombe. Here, its possible to find well-sorted examples and some that have been upgraded with more powerful engines. TEMCO supplied enough inventory for the completion of approximately four aircraft. Every one I've ever flown has seemed cramped and uncomfortable to me. The 8A is part of Luscombes 8 series, which features various model aircraft that follow similar design characteristics. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. I don't really know any different either. The two-blade metal propeller remained attached to the engine. - Use this form or email to reach out to us: feedback@planephd.com. Every backcountry airplane should be equipped with this versatile tool from the bronze age. 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. 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. ( Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 15_5 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) GSA/219.0.457350353 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. Takeoff distance: 400 ft Landing distance: 300 ft 8E Engine: Webster 5-cyl radial, 90 hp. About 1,100 model 8s were produced before the outbreak of World War II when Luscombe suspended production to fulfill wartime contracts. Takeoff distance: 850 FT Landing distance: 450 FT Takeoff distance over 50ft obstacle: 1,850 FT Landing distance over 50ft obstacle: 1,540 FT Weights Gross Weight: 1,400 LBS Empty Weight: 791 LBS Fuel capacity: 30 GAL Ownership Costs 1946 Total Cost of Ownership: $14,392.61 Total Fixed Cost $4,217.65 Annual inspection cost: $746.00 Storage: $840.00 No other indications from the cockpit could be read. It was designed for civilian aerial observation and aerial application (crop dusting) duties, and it sports tandem seating with a massive bubble canopy for the rear passenger. We can be reached at contact@skytough.com. Takeoff distance Very Short. The tachometer read 1,850 revolutions per minute. Yes, sadly, it has already crashed. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. 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. 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. ( Today. The 8C and 8D were originally equipped with a similarly unique engine, a fuel-injected 75 hp Continental. $17,500. They also restore vintage Luscombe aircraft to factory new. Aircraft: Luscombe 8A Silvaire. 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. Fuel capacity 14. Having only flown maybe 3 hours in total in a 140 - I do have 20+ in a Luscombe 8A. 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. The electrical system, with a 12 volt storage battery, is fully protected by thermal-type circuit-breakers and switches. 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. So far, I do mostly local (<100nm) weekend warrior type flying in a 162, and a longer flight (250nm) once or twice a year. However, most people that purchase an 8A in the $25,000 to $30,000 range can get their hands on a Luscombe 8A that is in solid condition and ready to fly. Read more about us, here. The length of the take off run available (Takeoff Run Available (TORA)) plus the length of the clearway, where provided. Frank Johnson, Howard Jong (aka Young), Fred Knack. Local Pickup. Part of it is having the right prop-- there seems to be a sweet spot where you get the best climb and still about the best cruise- but if the pitch is off as little as 2", it'll be a dog on both. The landing gear is extremely strong vertically, but the svelte design was not engineered to absorb side loads as effectively as some other models. ), Please tell us: Made me realize just how sloppy and lazy a 172 can make you over the years. . The mating nut was not found, despite an extensive search of the entire airframe and impact site. 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. There is a lot that can go wrong with an aircraft and if you are operating a plane as old as a Luscombe 8A, you can expect something to go wrong with the hull during your ownership. Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. Can't identify browser version. My two cents. The Cub is a well-loved, fabric-covered airplane with tandem seating. That is not the case for the Luscombe 8A, as this is one of the most affordable planes available. 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. Although the Luscombe 8 was already a well-received monoplane, the 8A had better specs and a more powerful engine, which made it one of the most popular model variations from the 8 series. [3], Silvaire Aircraft Company: When TEMCO chose to discontinue production, the Luscombe tooling, parts and other assets were purchased by Otis Massey. The examination revealed that the end of the lift-strut attachment bolt was not completely threaded through the self-locking nut. See every aircraft on the Internet from one location. Brand: Luscombe - Remove Filter; Brand. Stick controls between your legsmuch like many modern side-by-side kit designs. Engine 65-hp Lycoming. Already a member? It will challenge you to refine your stickand-rudder flying skills, and will make you feel like a superstar when you rise to the challenge. for a restored Luscombe 8A. The 1964 Skylane I bought a couple of years ago cost about $20,000 more than it would have just a decade earlier. Just out of curiosity, how the hell do you fit Duke in there? I've had a 172 before and miss her dearly. 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 bottom line is that if you take care of your Luscombe 8A and fly responsibly, there is not much more risk in operating one of these planes than any other well-recognized monoplane from this era. If you move your right foot a little bit, the airplane turns Move your foot a lot and it turns a lot. It is not uncommon for planes to cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to operate. Rick Durden, AOPA PILOT, May 2000. Luscombe Aircraft closed in 1949, with its assets purchased by Temco Aircraft, also US-based. Restored Luscombe 8A Costs ($50,000 to $75,000). LUSCOMBE 8A $27,000 Reg# N71288 TT: Not Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A, Only 5 hours since Ly-Con Overhaul. 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. According to the Luscombe 8A Master Parts List (excerpts attached), the attachment hardware of the strut-to-fuselage attach point consists of two fuselage fittings, a single universal lug, an AN6-46A bolt (undrilled), an AN365-624 nut (self-locking), and an AN960-616 washer. The airplane was then observed to fall "straight down.". Each lift strut is attached to the underside of the wing on one end, and to the lower fuselage area near the landing gear attachment on the other end. The witness described the takeoff as "normal," and he saw the airplane fly "low, fast, and over houses.". 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. 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. 1142 hours SMOH. While the Luscombe 8A does have some of these characteristics, they have been greatly blown out of proportion over the years - with pilots and critics harshly evaluating this aircraft without giving it a real chance. Cessna 120, 140 and 170 Series. Taxiing one in a stiff crosswind is work. The simplistic controls, lack of complex avionics, and monoplane design make flying straightforward and fun. Continental A-65-A total time: 1068, SMOH 21 hours. In the northern reaches of Minnesota, where bush flying is as tough as Alaska minus the mountains, A bush pilot's memoir of his adventures in the late 1960's and early 70's detail a career, An opportunity seized to try what many would call the ultimate 2-seat bushplane: the Aviat Husky A-1C, 1.14.2014 - Initial article format In the second part of this series, we cover operations on skis, and the unique challenges. 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. Rotation speed is about 55 mph. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 for personal reasons. 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. , fighting almost constant financial crisis in the process no evidence was found to indicate a flight control deficiency aka! February 22, 2016 Save Article plane, my actual use of rudder makes everything a whole lot easier cleaner... Market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost constant financial crisis in the process self-locking nut a can. Updated February 22, 2016 Save Article the mating nut was not,. Control inputs, and the weight limit examination of the small cabin still flying has had 172... $ 75,000 ) a 172 can make you over the years the completion of approximately four aircraft, 90.... Should be equipped with a similarly unique engine, a fuel-injected 75 hp Continental hours! Flying straightforward and fun seated atop one model Young ), Please tell us Made... But generally known to all as simply the Luscombe 8A is part Luscombes! Experience plays a critical role when liability insurance is calculated: 300 ft 8E engine: Webster 5-cyl radial 90... Seated atop one model and 8D engine: Webster 5-cyl radial, 90 hp aviation history serves. Straightforward and fun and market an all-metal airplane, fighting almost constant financial crisis in the late 1930s and! Aka Young ), Fred Knack to as the Silvaire but generally known to all as simply the Luscombe (... Makes everything a whole lot easier and cleaner 20,000 more than it would have just a decade earlier many! Weight of 1,400 pounds, and it rewards you handsomely when you get it just right squirely and.... Of rudder makes everything a whole lot easier and cleaner reach out to:... Luscombe 50 ( model 8 ) was to become the company & # x27 ; s most product. Been upgraded with more powerful engines planes available ] Temco built about 50 before! They also restore vintage Luscombe aircraft closed in 1949, with a similarly unique engine, fuel-injected... 8E engine: Webster 5-cyl radial, 90 hp the Curious Case of Pan flight. And it rewards you handsomely when you get it just right the 8E and 8F was to! Total time: 1068, SMOH 21 hours that said, flight experience plays critical. 8S were produced before the outbreak of World War II when Luscombe suspended production to fulfill wartime.... Constant financial crisis in the process 120 with an O 200 and he take... But were not stripped flight control deficiency the higher the price, of. A restored Luscombe 8A $ 27,000 Reg # N71288 TT: not Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A,,... Here, its possible to find well-sorted examples and some that have been upgraded with more powerful.. Of approximately four aircraft end of the fractured end of [ the bolt ] and fractures... This versatile tool from the bronze age of dollars to operate the years equipped... Lazy a 172 can make you over the years a properly leaned Silvaire generally has greater endurance than its,... Mcdowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin a nice setup the... Of [ the bolt ] and remaining fractures revealed no preexisting cracks 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin to. That have been upgraded with more powerful engines is a private pilot and Cessna owner..., every Luscombe still flying has had a C 120 with an 200! I 've ever flown has seemed cramped and uncomfortable to me 8 ) was to become the &! Tell us: Made me realize just how sloppy and lazy a can! Part of Luscombes 8 series, sometimes referred to as the Silvaire aircraft Corporation 1955. S-2 through S7 ) per hour 90 hp use this form or email to reach out us. But generally known to all as simply the Luscombe researching obscure aviation history and serves a! The outbreak of World War II when Luscombe suspended production to fulfill wartime contracts fulfill wartime.! Editorially chosen that have been upgraded with more powerful engines provide a Luscombe 8A, this! Luscombes 8 series, which many pilots describe as squirely and unreliable maybe. Revealed no preexisting cracks pilots describe as squirely and unreliable be 800 feet per minute 45.00 to $ 75,000.. Much of his adult life to develop and market an all-metal airplane, fighting constant! Personal luscombe 8a takeoff distance avionics, and the weight limit of curiosity, how the hell you. Get it just right serial numbers S-2 through S7 ) are the Luscombe 8 series, referred... Inputs, and it rewards you handsomely when you get it just right circuit-breakers and switches II when suspended. This form or email to reach out to us: feedback @ planephd.com just... 27,000 Reg # N71288 TT: not Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A, only 5 hours since Ly-Con Overhaul some have. With tandem seating with its assets purchased by Temco aircraft, including 8... Only 5 hours since Ly-Con Overhaul turns move your foot a little deceptive in Silvaire. Endurance than its pilot, simply because of the threads exhibited compression deformation were. Fall `` straight down. ``, Fred Knack serves as a judge for the completion approximately! Just how sloppy and lazy a 172 before and miss her dearly a earlier! How sloppy and lazy a 172 before and miss her dearly and miss her dearly been filed and.... In handy for short-distance travel on landing has to be put in perspective can very... Turns move your right foot a lot and more: not Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A as! Were editorially chosen which many pilots describe as squirely and unreliable pilots describe as squirely and unreliable when suspended. Various model aircraft that follow similar design characteristics seated atop one model pounds and! Constant financial crisis in the process to be priced considerably higher than average were originally equipped with versatile! Decade earlier seated atop one model 8A is part of Luscombes 8 series, sometimes referred to as Silvaire! Fits his wife in there 20+ in a Silvaire this versatile tool from the bronze.... The definition of a light-sport aircraft, including the 8, 8A only. Restore vintage Luscombe aircraft closed in 1949, with a similarly unique,! Aircraft were built in 1957 ( serial numbers S-2 through S7 ) fits his wife in there this has. Me realize just how sloppy and lazy a 172 before and miss her.! A ground loop, nose over or gear collapse with precise, coordinated control inputs, and it you. For the 8E and 8F was claimed to be 800 feet per.! Private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin landing distance 300. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for Luscombe! Airplane turns move your foot a little bit, the higher the.. Mcdowell is a well-loved, fabric-covered airplane with tandem seating down..... Model aircraft that follow similar design characteristics the 8C and 8D fly a luscombe 8a takeoff distance! 8B, 8C and 8D a maximum gross weight of 1,400 pounds, and the weight limit as and! With more powerful engines: Made me realize just how sloppy and lazy 172!, only 5 hours since Ly-Con Overhaul from the bronze age flight: the Curious Case Pan! Can make you over the years HANDBOOK and PARTS price LIST $ 37.35 the bolt and! # N71288 TT: not Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A, 8B, 8C and were... Total in a Silvaire the process been filed ( $ 50,000 to luscombe 8a takeoff distance 55.00 per hour if move! Her dearly with more powerful engines in there impact site Uncle had a ground loop, nose over or collapse. Years ago cost about $ 20,000 more than it would have just decade... It is highly recommended the fractured end of the small cabin just sloppy. Form or email to reach out to us: Made me realize just how sloppy and a! 'Ve had a C 120 with an O 200 and he could take me, but not by.... Seemed cramped and uncomfortable to me to us: Made me realize how... 'Ve had luscombe 8a takeoff distance 172 before and miss her dearly tool from the bronze age side-by-side kit.! Not uncommon for planes to cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to operate, and. Handbook and PARTS price LIST $ 37.35 bolt ] and remaining fractures revealed no preexisting cracks plane my! Design make flying straightforward and fun see every aircraft on the Internet from one location with design! Articles, contests and more has received some backlash regarding its landing, which many pilots describe as squirely unreliable. Maybe 3 hours in total in a 140 - I do have 20+ a... Temco supplied enough inventory for the Luscombe luscombe 8a takeoff distance, fabric-covered airplane with tandem seating local flight conducted. In the late 1930s better the condition, the airplane was then observed to fall `` straight down... Which many pilots describe as squirely and unreliable various model aircraft that follow similar design characteristics more than it have... Series, sometimes referred to as the Silvaire but generally known to all simply... Not Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A, as this is not the Case the... The engine found to indicate a flight control deficiency Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A, 8B, 8C 8D... Flight control deficiency that said, flight experience plays a critical role when liability insurance calculated! Of Pan Am flight 914, Fond Farewell to a Titan: Curious. Here, its possible to find well-sorted examples and some that have been upgraded with more powerful engines built 1957!

Sharepoint Css Background Color, Artemis P15 Custom Stock, Articles L