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| Following a series of less successful designs of similar configuration came the lighter, highly regarded and commercially successful Luscombe Model 8, which proved popular in both private and flying school markets.
Donald A. Luscombe founded the Luscombe Aeroplane Company five years before the Model 8 first flew, having moved the company from Kansas to New Jersey. Luscombe himself was eased out of the company in 1939, just as early versions of the Model 8 were being rolled out.
The Model 8 was a high-wing, tail-wheel monoplane, with an all-metal fuselage and fabric covered wings. In 1949, the company was sold to Temco, and then to the
Silvaire Aircraft Company. When production ceased in 1961, an estimated 6000 Model 8s had been produced.
| MODEL | Model 8-E |
| CREW | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 x 85hp Continental C-85 flat-four piston engine |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 635 kg | 1400 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 10.67 m | 35 ft 0 in |
| Length | 6.10 m | 20 ft 0 in |
| Height | 1.91 m | 6 ft 3 in |
| Wing area | 13.01 m2 | 140.04 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 196 km/h | 122 mph |
| Ceiling | 4875 m | 16000 ft |
| Range | 821 km | 510 miles |
| KEN SORENSEN, e-mail, 17.12.2009 01:05 Had a luscombe-8a 65 hp based out of La Grange airport in Illinois in the 1950s as a young man. flew it hundreds of hours with basic panel from Illinois to ft worth texas(American flyers).
worked for EAL for most of my career flyinf everything from the convair ,connie thru l-1011.I would love to find out where my old ship is. Its nc number was 20690 and I sold it for $900 in texas back about1958 0r 1959.
THE LUSCOMBE SERVED ME WELL AND STARTED A CAREER THAT LASTED 28,000 FLIGHT HOURS.
Capt Ken Sorensen -eal RETIRED reply | | Marc Maylor, e-mail, 01.09.2009 20:10 I finally attended Oshkosh this year, after many years of wanting to go. I went with a friend who used to own a Luscombe 8A. I never knew how nice these airplanes were. I would like to find an 8A,E or F in decent shape, or get in on a partnership with someone who has one. I have plenty of tail wheel time, and think these airplanes are neat! reply | | emily francois, e-mail, 19.05.2009 20:20 This plane is identical to my grandpas he loves 2 fly and work on planes when i saw this plane it surprised me !!!!!! reply | | emily francois, e-mail, 19.05.2009 20:16 This plane is identical to my grandpas he loves 2 fly and work on planes when i saw this plane it surprised me !!!!!! reply | |
| | Mark Cook, e-mail, 17.08.2008 04:47 I flew Luscombe 8A N122K out of the Council Bluffs, Iowa muni airport in 1950; my older brother was airport manager, and I mowed the runways to earn some flying time. A few months later I had to join the USAF to avoid being drafted by the Army, and successfully made it through Aviation Cadets, thanks in large part to flying time in the Cub and Luscombe. reply | | Ray Roberts, e-mail, 16.07.2008 14:17 I have owned a 1940 8A for 35 years. I have never found it to be difficult to fly. It has been pure joy to fly it over the past years. I have thought about selling it but I am not sure I could not stand being without it. The Luscombe is a great airplane! reply | | Ken Jarosz, DDS, e-mail, 03.07.2008 22:00 I was the proud owner of 8F N9945C; an all metal frame, wings, and tail. Highly effective flaps. I flew it for 5 years and 2200 hrs until I lost my medical. It is now in a flying museum in Amsterdam, Holland. I liked it a bunch better than the super Cub. reply | | Max Kohnke, e-mail, 28.06.2008 00:46 Greatest little plane of its class. Fast and strong.
"No wood, no glue, no nails". Several attempts to put it back into production have failed. The new Luscombe 4 place bears no real similarity. reply | | Bill Kohnke, e-mail, 14.06.2008 17:45 My Dad's first airplane was a rag wing 8A he bought while on leave from the Air Force in the late 40s or early 50s. He paid $600 cash for plane, then flew it to his parent's home in Quincy, FL. He was a licensed A&E so he dissembled the wings and stored it until his tour of duty was complete. He sold it a few years later but never lost his love of the plane. About 20 years later he bought a used 8E that had been fitted with the squared-off 8F tail. One of my brothers and sisters learned to fly in it. I flew it too, but found it cramped, especially when two people were in it. Dad always said if you could handle a Luscombe, you could handle just about any plane. I agree. It was nimble in the air and efficient to operate, but you had to stay on the rudder when landing or taking off because it loved to ground loop. In truth, you never stopped flying it. reply | | Glenn Smith, e-mail, 28.05.2008 03:30 Lus-8A N2713K: The very 1st entry in my 1st.logbook(on#5now)5 /17 /1960 with Frank Hofmiester in Sebewaing,Michagan.Flew for Zantop Air Transport out of DTW(C-46, DC-3, AW-650)1 /64 to 11 /64. On to TWA (CV-880, B-707-720-727-767, MD-80, L-1011) 11 /64 to 1 /87 (retired). Check Airman at Scenic Airlines - LAS Vegas, NV(Ford Tri-Motor, DHC-6 Twin Otter 1990 to 1993. Dir of Training at Air Vegas (C-402, BE-C99, BE-200) 3 /95 to 4 /2001. Retired again. Finished building my RV-8 in Boulder City, NV - 1st flight 1 /02. Qualified in the Guiness Book of Records during the Van's 35 ship largest TIGHT-Fomation flyby at Oshkosh 7 /24 /2007.
Still doing air shows! reply | | Bill Fahl, e-mail, 27.05.2008 22:04 This is the one I first took lessons in 1956 at Sebewaing, Michigan USA reply | | Larry Miller, e-mail, 27.05.2008 18:31 I and 3 other guys bought a '47 8A, 65HP, in Clovis NM in 1952 for $700 we sold it 3 years later for $750! What fun in that little A /C! I am now a retired Naval Aviator and corporate Learjet pilot (retired). Wish I still had that little bird...it had the metal wing. reply | | Jack Cutler, e-mail, 27.05.2008 02:32 Had a 1939 fabric wing, 65 hp 8A as my first plane. Loved to fly it! It was a "Pilot's" plane. Keep the nose straight, and you were home free. Otherwise, grin and bear a groundloop despite the more than adequate rudder and aileron affects. Even had to fly instruments a couple of times with thosebasic instruments! reply | | Merle Meeder, e-mail, 22.05.2008 18:09 I owned a 1947 8E N2497K from 1951 thru 1955. Living in PA.then,I had it as far west as Chicago,[Midway]and east to Dover ,Delaware. Wish I had the foresight to keep it. reply | |
| | MP Smith, e-mail, 09.05.2008 03:42 "Zero 3 Bravo: Solo Across America in a Small Plane", by Mariana Gosnell was written about her 1977 solo flight across the US in a 1950 Luscombe Silvaire stopping only at small airports. reply | | Roger Hanlin, e-mail, 26.04.2008 08:57 I owned a 1947 8E for almost 20 years. I still think they are a terrific airplane. When my family began growing up and when you fly for a living and don't have time for the fun stuff I sold it to someone who would appreciate and enjoy it. I didn't realize how much I would miss it. Even 20 + years later on clear full moon nights I still think about it !! reply | | Ken Sheridan, e-mail, 20.04.2008 03:53 I am 6ft 3in tall could not sit upright .Head was hitting overhead.for that reason never flew the Luscombe 8. reply | | Douglas Crain, e-mail, 07.04.2008 07:05 I flew this plane briefly in 1939 and 1940, before Pearl Harbor, in Seattle, WA.
Nostalgia! reply |
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