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. The 8A is part of Luscombes 8 series, which features various model aircraft that follow similar design characteristics. Now I fly every chance I get, and share the information I learn, here. Related ICAO Provisions. Massey had been a Luscombe dealer since the 1930s. Runway Excursion. [2] Temco built about 50 Silvaires before selling the rights to the Silvaire Aircraft Corporation in 1955. flyer1 | Lashenden / Headcorn. Both witnesses estimated that the airplane was airborne for 10 minutes, and that the accident occurred at 2110. Its easy to fly, yet challenging to fly well. The 8E seats up to 1 passengers plus 1 pilot. - Aircraft data that you believe is inaccurate or have specific experiences. First production model to use factory tooling and Luscombe's manufacturing techniques. Insuring your Luscombe 8A is going to be an absolute must. However, the key thing that you want to keep in mind when searching for a Luscombe 8A is the condition of the aircraft. I've peeked in Whee's 8E, it's a nice 2-place bird. Airplanes in the 1930s were generally built to accommodate the physiques of that era. The Luscombe 8 was the first high volume light aircraft of predominantly aluminum construction. . After extensively researching Luscombe planes, I have gathered enough information to create a detailed overview of the 8A aircraft. The Luscombe 50 (Model 8) was to become the company's most famous product. 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 Mysteries Of Flight: The Curious Case Of Pan Am Flight 914, Fond Farewell to a Titan: The Antonov An-225. Bulky footwear and boots are to be avoided in the interest of dexterity. After spending years watching every video I could find about flying, I finally scratched the itch and got my pilots license. With the 85 hp engine, this goes down to 850. Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. I was wondering how he fits his wife in there? Absolute dream to fly. Total Cost of Ownership: $13,737.27 Warranty. 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. Brian Nicholas | Popham. Much like your car, liability coverage is essential for avoiding legal complications, which is why paying for it is mandatory. 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. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Steep turns are such pleasure that it is difficult to stop. 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. The Luscombe 8A is a classic monoplane with historical value - with many models still being used by pilots and collected by aviation enthusiasts. . Private ( G-LUSK) | Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe. Tach:1113.65 ,Total Time:3146.15. If the 8F has flaps and a C90, that would be a nice setup. blancolirio 56K views 1 year ago Tailwheel landing. Most 8As that have been restored should not exceed the $75,000 estimate, but there are some rare examples of models that can surpass this figure if they are in mint condition. The 8E, 8F, and T8F all came with electrical systems and engines ranging from 85 to 90 hp. Takeoff Power Maximum power permissible for takeoff. L8E LUSCOMBE 8E OWNERS MANUAL $6.35. 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. No evidence was found to indicate a flight control deficiency. Recovery is conventional and only requires the pilot to reduce back pressure on the stick rather than shove the nose down. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from. Naturally, the better the condition, the higher the price. They have been the victims of unfairly critical accusations about their ground handling. (3.5 gallons/hr @ $5.40/gal), Misc: landing, parking, supplies,catering, etc, Typical Price: $88,429.00 The Luscombe 8 Offers a Unique Trip Back in Time, The increasingly rare pleasure of the Beechcraft Skipper, Piper J-3 Cub's Heritage of Simplicity, Reliability, The Piper Tomahawk: A Lot More Airplane for a Lot Less Money, The Practical Endurance of the Piper Cherokee Six, The Rise and Stall of the Piper PA-47 PiperJet Program. It seems like mine would cruse at about 110 mph if you pushed it. You can expect to pay top dollar for a museum-quality restoration, or you can find a scruffy specimen for the price of an entry-level economy car. The handling of a Luscombe on landing has to be put in perspective. The biggest mistake that you can make with owning the Luscombe 8A, as well as any other aircraft, is neglecting its routine maintenance. Fly one tank at a time w/two wing tanks 142/01. The Luscombe Aircraft Corporation was re-formed as a New Jersey company in 1937, and a new design was begun. Yes, sadly, it has already crashed. Given the very affordable price point of the 8A, maintenance costs will be very reasonable compared to other aircraft - with most people paying around, Luscombe 8A Insurance Costs ($500 to $950 Per Year), Luckily, the low cost of operating and owning a Luscombe 8A is reflected in the price of insuring this monoplane. If the pilot is using one of the brakes a great deal, the length of time for a successful crosswind taxi may be limited, as the brake may heat up and fade. Aircraft just underwent a 15 year restoration and was finished in 2011. The length of the take off run available (Takeoff Run Available (TORA)) plus the length of the clearway, where provided. 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 airplane's maintenance records were recovered and examined. If the skins on top behind the fuselage are wrinkled it had a nose over. Luscombe 8B N9900C, serial number S-1, was built in 1956. Aircraft has recently undergone a fresh annual and is ready to fly. for a Luscombe 8A. ( Also thinking about a Luscombe. 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. The right wing and empennage remained attached to the airframe. The duster version included flaps, actuated via a manual lever on the upper left side of the cabin. 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 then saw the airplane fly back towards the southwest about 800 to 1,000 feet above the ground. 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. 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. He left Mono Aircraft, maker of the speedy Monocoupes, to set up his own company in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1933. 17 . Conversely, long legs or thick thighs will constantly battle the control sticks for space, and when conditions are gusty, the area beneath the instrument panel can become a busy, crowded place. About 1,000 Silvaires were built between the first part of 1938 and the early months of 1942. 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. The 8A introduced a more powerful 65 hp Continental, and it was produced in large quantities both before and after World War II. One owner reports achieving 105 mph on 4.5 gallons per hour with his 65 hp machine. Please send us your experiences on your aircraft. 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. Flying is dangerous. 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. 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. I don't care for the later swept-tail versions, but a straight-tail (1959-63) or square-tail (1964-65) model makes into a nice taildragger. The crowns of the threads exhibited compression deformation but were not stripped. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Information on converting Luscombe Model 8A to 8C or 8E. Oh man. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. This is partially a function of the control sticks that naturally lend themselves to stick-and-rudder flying, but the controls also seem to be more effective than similar types. The gear is stiff and narrow, yet the rudder is effective, as is the tailwheel. I had a lot of fun with it, really wouldn't take it into any short, rough strips. In March 1939, the 8A, with a 65-hp Lycoming, and the 813, with a 65-hp Continental engine, were introduced. 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. 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. Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. 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. Fuel cost per hour: Mind the gravity not the gap. Today, nearly 900 8As remain on the U.S. register. More often than not, an 8A bought at this price will need some form of restoration - either soon or immediately after your purchase. In the UK, some of the 8A models have been converted to 8F specification by the installation of wing fuel tanks and a Continental C90-12F engine. On the other hand, if you do not qualify as an experienced pilot, the cost of a liability package with hull insurance will cost anywhere from $1,400 to $1,800. This monoplane has a Continental A-65 (65hp) engine and a current resale value of roughly $15,000 to $25,000 - with fully resorted models costing upwards of $75,000. 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