View source for Luscombe 8

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2021}}
{{Short description|Light, single engine monoplane produced 1937 - late 1940s}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= Luscombe 8
 |image= File:Luscombe8E, G-BSHH.jpg
 |caption= 1946-built Luscombe 8E
 |type= civilian
 |manufacturer= [[Luscombe Aircraft]]
 |designer= [[Donald A. Luscombe]]
 |first_flight= December 17, 1937
 |introduction=
 |produced= 1937 – c. 1940s
 |retired=
 |number_built= 5,867 (1960)<ref name="jawa03 p705">Jackson 2003, p. 705.</ref>
 |status=
 |primary_user    =
 |variants =
}}

The '''Luscombe 8''' is a series of high-wing, side-by-side-seating [[monoplane]]s with [[conventional landing gear]], designed in 1937 and built by [[Luscombe Aircraft]].
[[File:luscombe.8a.g-ccrk.arp.jpg|thumb|right|1946 Luscombe Silvaire 8A]] 
[[File:Luscombe 8F nose.jpg|right|thumb|1948 Luscombe 8F Silvaire]]

==Development==
The XT8E was developed in 1947 to compete for an [[U.S. Air Force]] contract, but lost to the [[Aeronca L-16]]. It was then modified and sold as the T8F.<ref>{{cite web |title=Luscombe T8F Observer |url=http://www.ewarbirds.org/aircraft/t8f.shtml |website=Estrella Warbirds Museum |access-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> It was again entered in a competition in 1950 as the T8F-L, but lost to the [[Cessna L-19]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tilborg |first1=Walter van |title=No. 10779. Luscombe T8F Silvaire Observer (N2140B c/n 6567) |url=http://www.1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/VanTilborg/10779.htm |website=1000AircraftPhotos.com |access-date=27 May 2025 |date=31 August 2011}}</ref>

===Subsequent companies===
After building 5,743<ref>{{cite book |last1=Swick |first1=John |title=Luscombe's Golden Age |date=2005 |publisher=Wind Canyon Books |location=Brawley CA |isbn=1-891118-51-X |page=255 }}</ref> Model 8 airplanes, the original Luscombe Aircraft closed in 1949, with its assets purchased by [[Temco Aircraft]].<ref name="Gunston man p294">Gunston 2005, p. 294.</ref> Temco built about 50 Silvaires in Dallas, Texas, before selling the rights to the Silvaire Aircraft Corporation in 1955.<ref name="jawa61 p321"/>

When Temco discontinued production, Otis Massey headed up a new corporation that purchased the Luscombe tooling, parts, and other assets. Massey had been a Luscombe dealer since the 1930s. His new venture opened in [[Fort Collins, Colorado]] as Silvaire Uranium and Aircraft Corp (later renamed Silvaire 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. 

The Colorado firm's first airplane was built in 1956. This aircraft was constructed from spares or Material Review Board (MRB) parts that were serviceable but remained from Temco's prior production. The Temco parts supplied Silvaire Aircraft Corp. with enough inventory to complete approximately four aircraft. N9900C (equipped with wheel pants <ref name="Swick">{{cite book|last=Swick| first=John C.| year=2005| title=Luscombe's Golden Age| edition=1st | publisher=Wind Canyon Books| location=[[Brawley, California]]| isbn=1-891118-51-X}}</ref> and flaps<ref>{{cite book |last1=Roberts |first1=Russ |title=Unlearning to Fly: Navigating the Turbulence and Bliss of Growing Up in the Sky |date=2021 |publisher=Holt & Grooms Co. Ltd. |isbn=978-1-7356413-2-4 |location=Carson City, NV |pages=56}}</ref>) first flew on September 10, 1956. According to Swick, one other airplane was built in 1956. Six aircraft were built in 1957, with two of them being shipped to Buenos Aires, Argentina.<ref name="Swick" />

After building eighty airplanes, the Silvaire Aircraft Company closed down. The last airplane was completed on May 17, 1960.<ref name="Swick" />

Moody Larsen of Belleville, Michigan acquired the tooling, parts, and type certificate on December 6, 1963. In 1965 Larsen developed and acquired a supplemental type certificate to install 150hp Lycoming engines in existing Luscombe 8s. In 1968 Larsen sold his Luscombe intellectual interests to a Georgia group which incorporated as the Luscombe Aircraft Corporation. The tooling remained, exposed to the weather, in Michigan.<ref name="Swick" />

The assets, including parts, tools, jigs, and the FAA-type certificate (A-694) of the legacy Luscombe companies, were acquired by Testrake Aviation in 2019. The company intended to restart production of the Luscombe 8.<ref>{{cite web |title=Luscombe Now |url=http://www.luscombeair.com/about-us |website=Luscombe Aircraft Corporation |access-date=9 May 2023}}</ref>

==Variants==
;Model 8
:Initial variant with a {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Continental A-50]] engine.
[[File:Luscombe UC-90.jpg|thumb|right|The UC-90]]
;Model 8A Luscombe Master
:Model 8 with a higher power {{convert|65|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|65|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[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 {{convert|75|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental C-85 engine.
;Model 8F
:High-performance variant with a {{convert|90|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental C-90 engine. Some 8Fs were built with manually operated wing flaps.
;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 {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. The design is a [[Federal Aviation Administration]] accepted special light-sport aircraft.<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 64. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="SLSA">{{cite web|url = http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/slsa/|title = EAA's Listing of Special Light-Sport Aircraft|access-date = 1 June 2012|author = Experimental Aircraft Association|author-link = Experimental Aircraft Association|year = 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140228070151/http://sportpilot.org/learn/slsa|archive-date = 28 February 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="WDLA15">Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 67. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref><ref name="FAASLSA">{{cite web|url = https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/SLSA_Directory.xlsx|title = SLSA Make/Model Directory|access-date = 6 March 2017|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 26 September 2016}}</ref>
;Dair 100 testbed
:One Luscombe 8A was equipped with a [[Dair 100]] two-stroke diesel engine as a [[testbed]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.dair.co.uk/documents/engine/pictures.htm#|title = Various Pictures|access-date = 15 March 2018|author=Diesel Air |work =www.dair.co.uk}}</ref>

==Specifications (Silvaire 8-F)==
[[File:luscombe.8f.g-bulo.arp.jpg|thumb|right|1946 Luscombe Silvaire 8F]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62<ref name="jawa61 p321">Taylor 1961, p. 321.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide= 
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=20
|length in=0
|span m=
|span ft=35
|span in=0
|height m=
|height ft=6
|height in=3
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=140
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=870
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1400
|fuel capacity=25 US Gallons (95 L)
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Continental C90]]
|eng1 type=air-cooled [[flat four]]
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=90<!-- prop engines -->
|prop blade number=2<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=metal fixed pitch
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=5<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=11<!-- propeller aircraft -->

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=128
|max speed kts=
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=120
|cruise speed kts=
|stall speed mph=40
|stall speed note=(flaps down)
|range km=
|range miles=500
|range nmi=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=17000
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=900
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

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.

==See also==
{{aircontent|
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|related=
|similar aircraft=
*[[Aeronca 11 Chief]]
*[[Aeronca 50 Chief]]
*[[Cessna 140|Cessna 120 and 140]]
*[[Ercoupe]] 
*[[Piper J-4]]
*[[Taylorcraft B]]


|lists=
|see also=
}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Gunston|first=Bill|title=World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers|year=2005|publisher=Sutton Publishing|location=Stroud, UK|isbn=0-7509-3981-8|edition=Second|author-link=Bill Gunston}}
* {{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Paul|title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004|year=2003|publisher=Jane's Information Group|location=Coulsdon, UK|isbn=0-7106-2537-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Swick| first=John C.| year=1992| title=The Luscombe Story| edition=3rd  |publisher=SunShine House| location=[[Terre Haute, Indiana]]| isbn=0-943691-00-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Taylor|first=John W. R.|title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62|year=1961|publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company|location=London|author-link=John W. R. Taylor}}
* {{cite book| last=Thomas| first=Stanley G.| year=1991| title=The Luscombes| edition=1st| publisher=Tab/Aero Books| location=[[Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania]]| isbn=0-8306-3618-8| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/luscombes00thom}}
* {{cite book| last=Zazas|first=James B.| year=1993| title=Visions of Luscombe - The Early Years| edition=1st| publisher=SunShine House| location=[[Terre Haute, Indiana]]| isbn=0-943691-09-5}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Luscombe 8}}
*[http://www.luscombe.org/ Luscombe Foundation]
{{Luscombe aircraft}}
{{USAF transports}}

[[Category:Luscombe aircraft|08]]
[[Category:1930s United States civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:1930s United States sport aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1937]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]