Luscombe Model 8
Luscombe Aircraft · United States · first flew 1937 · light aircraft
The Luscombe Model 8 was a pioneering all-metal two-seat light aircraft first flown in 1937, notable as one of the first truly all-metal private aircraft and a forerunner of modern light plane construction. It was produced in large numbers before and after World War II.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- All-metal high-wing two-seat light aircraft
- Side-by-side seating under metal monoplane wing
- Distinctive polished aluminium skin popular postwar
A high-wing monoplane with a distinctive polished or painted aluminium fuselage, side-by-side seating visible through large cabin windows, and a short, compact fuselage. The all-metal skin and tapered wing distinguish it from fabric-covered high-wing contemporaries like the Aeronca or Piper Cub.
Specifications
- The Luscombe Model 8 has a length of 6.1 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 206 km/h (128 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Don Luscombe designed the Model 8 to demonstrate that all-metal construction could be practical for light aircraft. Production ran from 1938 to 1942 and resumed postwar from 1945 to 1961. Many thousands were built, and the type remains popular among vintage aircraft enthusiasts. The Model 8 was faster and more durable than fabric-covered contemporaries.
Variants
The Model 8 family included variants from 65 to 90 hp engines (8A through 8F); the 8E Silvaire with a 90 hp Continental was the most popular postwar version.
Where you'll see it
Widely used in US civil general aviation from 1938 onwards; several hundred were impressed for military training duties in World War II; large numbers remain airworthy today.
Related aircraft
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