Luscombe 8 Explained

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.

Development

Luscombe Aircraft closed in 1949, with its assets purchased by Temco Aircraft, also US-based.[1] Temco built about 50 Silvaires before selling the rights to the Silvaire Aircraft Corporation in 1955.

Silvaire Aircraft Company: When TEMCO chose to discontinue production, the Luscombe tooling, parts and other assets were purchased by Otis Massey. Massey had been a Luscombe dealer since the 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 make and model for all 80 was Silvaire 8F, with "Luscombe" shown in quotation marks in company literature. N9900C, serial number S-1, was built in 1956. This first aircraft was constructed from spares or Material Review Board (MRB) parts that were serviceable, but remaining from TEMCO's prior production. TEMCO supplied enough inventory for the completion of approximately four aircraft. N9900C first flew on September 10, 1956. Six aircraft were built in 1957, with two of them being shipped to Buenos Aires, Argentina.[2]

The assets of the Luscombe Corporation were acquired by Testrake Aviation in 2019. The company intends to restart production of the Luscombe 8.[3]

Variants

Model 8
  • Initial variant with a 500NaN0 Continental A-50 engine.
    Model 8A Luscombe Master
  • Model 8 with a higher power 650NaN0 Continental A-65 engine.
    UC-90A
  • One Model 8A adopted by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II (s/n 42-79549).
    Model 8B Luscombe Trainer
  • As Model 8A powered by a 650NaN0 Lycoming O-145 engine. One impressed by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II as UC-90 (s/n 42-79550).
    Model 8C Silvaire Deluxe
  • As Model 8A powered by a 750NaN0 Continental A-75 engine.
    Model 8D Silvaire Deluxe Trainer
  • As Model 8A with steerable tailwheel and other minor changes.
    Model 8E Silvaire Deluxe
  • An improved Model 8C with increased gross weight and powered by an 850NaN0 Continental C-85 engine.
    Model 8F
  • High-performance variant with a 900NaN0 Continental C-90 engine.
    Model T8F Luscombe Observer
  • A tandem two-seat variant of the 8F for observation duties.
    Model 8G
  • Was a proposed variant of the 8F with a tricycle landing gear, not built.
    Luscombe LSA-8
  • Model for the US light-sport aircraft category, produced by the Luscombe Silvaire Company of Riverside, California and introduced at Sun 'n Fun 2007. The LSA-8 is powered by a Continental O-200 engine of 1000NaN0. The design is a Federal Aviation Administration accepted special light-sport aircraft.[4] [5] [6] [7]
    Dair 100 testbed
  • One Luscombe 8A was equipped with a Dair 100 two-stroke diesel engine as a testbed aircraft.[8]

    Specifications (Silvaire 8-F)

    Sub-Model T8F has tandem seating but is generally similar in dimension, Sprayer version approved for Restricted category operations can have higher Gross Weight with operational limits.

    References

    Bibliography

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Gunston 2005, p. 294.
    2. Book: Swick, John C.. 2005. Luscombe's Golden Age. 1st . Wind Canyon Books. Brawley, California. 1-891118-51-X.
    3. Web site: Luscombe Now . Luscombe Aircraft Corporation . 9 May 2023.
    4. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 64. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
    5. Web site: EAA's Listing of Special Light-Sport Aircraft. 1 June 2012. Experimental Aircraft Association. Experimental Aircraft Association. 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140228070151/http://sportpilot.org/learn/slsa. 28 February 2014. dead.
    6. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 67. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
    7. Web site: SLSA Make/Model Directory. 6 March 2017. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. 26 September 2016.
    8. Web site: Various Pictures. 15 March 2018. Diesel Air . www.dair.co.uk.

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