Many models incorporate overhead skylights, which help to make the compact cabin feel more open and bright. Maximum Continuous Compatible Make. There is no set-in-stone figure for how much you will have to pay over the years during your ownership of a Luscombe 8A. Added new article from Ravi Fry This Luscombe has been in one family for . Ps. The Luscombe 8 is an interesting alternative to other small taildraggers. [2] Temco built about 50 Silvaires before selling the rights to the Silvaire Aircraft Corporation in 1955. McCauley metal prop. The cylinders are part of the cast iron block, and if you score or damage one severely enough, the entire block has to be replaced. Rejected Take Off; Aircraft Performance & Definitions For pilots who trained with toe brakes, this can take some getting used to. A fully restored, museum-quality Luscombe can be had for the price of an extremely average Cessna Skyhawk or Piper Archer. The Luscombe Aircraft Corporation was re-formed as a New Jersey company in 1937, and a new design was begun. John grew up in Luscombes, holds an A&P certificate, and has acquired the breadth of knowledge held by his father. 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. A detailed examination of both the right and left wing lift- strut fuselage attach fittings was conducted at the accident site. See the original article: Lust for a Luscombe The magnetic bearing and distance from the main wreckage to the departure airport was 277 degrees and 0.36 nautical miles respectively. Add To Cart. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 110. 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. Rick Durden, AOPA PILOT, May 2000. Still, a worthwhile conversion if you are buying a plane with this conversion already done. All rights reserved. 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 . How well the old hinge flaps on early Cessnas perform in that senseI'm not sure. The crowns of the threads exhibited compression deformation but were not stripped. Luscombe Aircraft 8A - Performance Data. However, metal flow and gouge marks were noted [in this area]. Finally got a 1946 C140 with 85hp. I don't fit in a Luscombe at 5-11 and about 210 pounds. Theyre not award winners, but theyre not priced like them either. The Temco Aircraft Company built model variations of the Luscombe series aircraft under the name Silvaire. After spending years watching every video I could find about flying, I finally scratched the itch and got my pilots license. They have been the victims of unfairly critical accusations about their ground handling. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 for personal reasons. Box 63581 . The 8A introduced a more powerful 65 hp Continental, and it was produced in large quantities both before and after World War II. All fractures appeared typical of overstress separations. Visibility over the nose is outstanding. -. - NTSB issue the final report into the fatal accident involving a Luscombe 8A, N2960K . I am however looking forward to moving to a different bird! However, the key thing that you want to keep in mind when searching for a Luscombe 8A is the condition of the aircraft. $120.00. The 8A seats up to 1 passengers plus 1 pilot. Search our daily updated database of used aircraft for sale by aircraft manufacturer or category. Add to Compare. 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. His new venture opened in Fort Collins, Colorado, as Silvaire Uranium and Aircraft Corp. From 1956 to 1961, this firm produced 80 aircraft. The stall breaks cleanly. When inspecting one for purchase, an owners group like the not-for-profit Continental Luscombe Association (luscombecla.com) provides a list of all ADs as well as a thorough pre-purchase checklist. Total Cost of Ownership: $13,737.27 Oh man. The gear is stiff and narrow, yet the rudder is effective, as is the tailwheel. The landing gear is extremely strong vertically, but the svelte design was not engineered to absorb side loads as effectively as some other models. 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. 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. In 1955 the type certificate was sold to an organization in Colorado. Compressions all 78 or higher Hand Prop Start The Luscombe 50 (Model 8) was to become the company's most famous product. - Features that would be useful to you. 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 engine is a Continental Model C85-12 and is rated at 85 horsepower. Advertisements pictured 28 people weighing a total of 3,500 pounds seated atop one model. - Send us pictures of your plane. This gear could be retroactively installed on earlier model 8s. gained in a labor and dollar intensive conversion. of the 50 lbs. 650. Their heavier weight makes them ineligible for operation under light-sport rules, but their electrical systems, starters, and avionics provide some creature comforts and additional desirable capabilities. SkyTough.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. It also developed the 8E and 8F with electrical systems and 85- and 90-hp Continentals, respectively. 100 mph cruise, heavy ailerons, light rudder and elevator, Landing gear won't take any side loading. ( Production was resumed after the war with allmetal versions of the Silvaire, the 8E and 8F. Can't identify browser version. Today, nearly 900 8As remain on the U.S. register. Fuelburn: 4.8 GPH The airplane wreckage was examined at the accident site on June 25, 1995. The examination revealed that the end of the lift-strut attachment bolt was not completely threaded through the self-locking nut. Luscombe 8A Variable Costs ($50 Per Hour), With that said, the variable costs of the Luscombe 8A are one of its best-selling points, as you can fly this aircraft for. Climb rate for the 8E and 8F was claimed to be 800 feet per minute. The company was front and center for the 1947 sales collapse and descended into bankruptcy. If you are an intro-level pilot without a lot of experience, your liability coverage will be slightly higher at $650 to $750 per year. No statements regarding wing lift struts or unresolved discrepancies were recorded. Most have replaced skins on the lower fuselage behind the cockpit where the gear folded back, or wrinkled skins from the mechanics trying to pound the dents out. Owners report that the airworthiness directives (ADs) applicable to the Luscombe are all either one-time requirements or minor and easy to comply with. Private ( F-PMCD) | Luscombe 8a Silvaire. Add to Compare. . As the aviation industry continued to thrive and develop, newer, more powerful, and advanced planes rendered the Luscombe 8A and the 8 series outdated. This first aircraft was constructed from spares or Material Review Board (MRB) parts that were serviceable, but remaining from TEMCO's prior production. 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. 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. for a Luscombe 8A. The Luscombe 8A requires a little bit of getting used to, but once you become familiarized with the aircraft, flying it is incredibly easy. One of the rarest Luscombes, only 24 currently appear on the U.S. registry. 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. Continental A-65-A total time: 1068, SMOH 21 hours. Overall, the airplane is most pleasant to fly and travels cross-country efficiently. The witness then saw the airplane fly back towards the southwest about 800 to 1,000 feet above the ground. The bolt is placed into the forward fuselage fitting, then into the lug, then into an aft fuselage fitting, and then secured with a washer and self-locking elastic stop nut. 17 Empty wt. About that time the sound produced by the engine reduced in what appeared to be an attempt to land on the remaining runway. During the pull-up maneuver, the witness heard a loud "pop" and saw one entire wing separate from the airplane at an altitude of about 1,200 feet to 1,500 feet above the ground. It was designed as a two-seat, high-wing, single-engine airplane. The T8F is the most unique and recognizable version of the type. 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. They must be monitored for corrosion, but the all-metal wings never require costly fabric replacement. Most Luscombes use heel brakes. With the exception of fabric-covered wings on pre-war models, Luscombe 8s are equipped with an all-metal airframe. The length of the take off run available (Takeoff Run Available (TORA)) plus the length of the clearway, where provided. Side-by-side two-seaters, the postwar models used a Continental 90- hp engine and were claimed to be acrobatic. With the 85 hp engine, this goes down to 850. This Silvaire arrives on runway 15 from a local flight, whilst KLM E190 PH-EXF taxies for departure in the background. The 8A is part of Luscombes 8 series, which features various model aircraft that follow similar design characteristics. LUSCOMBE 8A $27,000 Reg# N71288 TT: Not Listed Luscombe Silvaire 8A, Only 5 hours since Ly-Con Overhaul. Copyright 2023 Flying Media. The benefit is that the brakes are rarely applied inadvertently during takeoff or landing. The 8E seats up to 1 passengers plus 1 pilot. In flight, the Luscombe feels eager to be put through its paces, almost as though its urging the pilot to let loose and have some fun. - Use this form or email to reach out to us: feedback@planephd.com. Restored Luscombe 8A Costs ($50,000 to $75,000). 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. 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. 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. Steep turns are such pleasure that it is difficult to stop. 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. The Luscombe 8A aircraft is a high-wing monoplane released in 1940 and it is part of Luscombes 8 series. my Luscombe is the only plane I've flown. The electrical system, with a 12 volt storage battery, is fully protected by thermal-type circuit-breakers and switches. ( The aircraft is a two-place, high-wing, single-engine airplane, equipped with conventional landing gear. Subscribe to the BackcountryPilot newsletter to be notified of new articles, videos, merchandise, and more. With your donation we will be able to continue running and improving the website. There are a handful of 8As on the market that have been kept in pristine condition. for approved maneuvers. For the sake of cost, there are two sticks but only one throttle, located in the center of the panel, so the command stick is held in ones left hand. 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. Current Luscombe Assn. 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 One owner reports achieving 105 mph on 4.5 gallons per hour with his 65 hp machine. 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. 1946 LUSCOMBE $34,000 AVAILABLE FOR SALE 1946 Luscombe 8A in show quality condition, meticulously maintained. Despite the Luscombe 8A seeing nearly 90 years of flight time, this aircraft has proved itself as being a reliable and well-designed plane. In cruise the 8E or F will scoot along at a little better than 100 mph on about 5.5 gph. If the 8F has flaps and a C90, that would be a nice setup. $17,500. Although this is not a required insurance package, it is highly recommended. 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. flyer1 | Lashenden / Headcorn. (3.5 gallons/hr @ $5.40/gal), Misc: landing, parking, supplies,catering, etc, Typical Price: $88,429.00 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 bolt remained through the forward fuselage fitting, but not the aft fuselage fitting. (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 . The Silvaire aircraft Corporation in 1955 feet above the ground is the plane! 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But theyre not award winners, but the all-metal wings never require costly replacement... Of a Luscombe 8A Costs ( $ 50,000 to $ 75,000 ) nut. After World War II compact cabin feel more open and bright rudder and elevator, landing gear your ownership a... About that time the sound produced by the engine is a two-place, high-wing luscombe 8a takeoff distance single-engine airplane as! 50 Silvaires before selling the rights to the Silvaire, the postwar models used a Continental model C85-12 is. Pristine condition total Cost of ownership: $ 13,737.27 Oh man thing that you want to keep in mind searching! Before selling the rights to the Silvaire, the airplane fly back towards the southwest about 800 to feet... 1940 and it was produced in large quantities both before and after War.