luscombe silvaire in flight for an aircraft appraisal

LUSCOMBE AIRCRAFT APPRAISALS

Luscombe Model 8 Silvaire, Model 8A Master, Model 8B Trainer,

Model 8C Silvaire Deluxe, Model 8D Silvaire Deluxe, Model 8E

Silvaire Deluxe, Model 8F, Model 11 Sedan, Model 11A Sedan, Model

11E Sedan

Luscombe was a United States aircraft manufacturer from 1933 to 1950. Donald A. Luscombe founded the Luscombe Aircraft Company in 1933 in Kansas City, Missouri. Luscombe had already made his reputation as an aircraft designer with the Monocoupe series of light aircraft, but he felt that the tube-and-fabric method of construction was too expensive and inefficient. He planned to create a light aircraft that was all-metal monocoque construction. The new company's first aircraft was the Luscombe Model 1, commonly known as the Luscombe Phantom. This was a high-wing, two-place monoplane of all-metal construction (except for the fabric wing covering). The Phantom was tricky to land, and was never a financial success. In the winter of 1934/35, Luscombe Aircraft moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and was incorporated as the Luscombe Aircraft Development Corporation. Luscombe's most famous and popular Model 8 followed in the Luscombe tradition of using no wood in the construction, and had a monocoque fuselage with fabric-covered metal wings. For a cheap, light aircraft, this was a revolutionary construction technique. Its competitors were built of fabric-covered steel tubing, with wooden spars and sometimes ribs in the fabric-covered wings. Luscombe's construction techniques allowed him to build his aircraft quickly and cheaply, without sacrificing strength. His aircraft were also more efficient than his competitors, cruising 10–20 mph faster on the same power. The final simplification made to the Luscombe 8 design was the introduction in 1948 of the Silflex landing gear. This was a cantilever tubular-steel gear attached to a spring-oleo unit. It was four inches wider than the original wire-braced gear, simpler to manufacture, and stronger in side-load. It also reduced the incidence of ground-looping, and was less prone to damage when ground loops did occur. While the gear usually survived ground incidents, its strength often resulted in serious fuselage damage at the hard point attachments which was difficult to repair without jigging. The last major upgrade to the Silvaire came in early 1948. The Model 8F was introduced using a 90 hp Continental engine. The tandem aircraft was simultaneously upgraded to produce the T8F model. Sales were not strong, however, and the company was failing. In December, its major suppliers put Luscombe on a COD basis. The company closed its doors in 1949, with its assets purchased by Temco Aircraft, also Dallas based. Temco built about 50 Silvaires before selling the rights to the Silvaire Aircraft Corporation in 1955. AERONUVO has access to up-to-date current market pricing data for several Luscombe aircraft models and can provide a certified appraisal report. Our Premier and Certified Aircraft Appraisal Services include Aeronca, Aero Commander, American Champion (ACA), American General, Aviat Husky and Pitts, Beechcraft (Beech), Bellanca, Citabria, Cessna, Cirrus, CubCrafters (Cub Crafters), DAHER SOCATA, Diamond, Ercoupe, Glasair, Great Lakes, Grumman American, Lancair, Luscombe, Maule, Mooney, Piper, Rockwell Commander, Stinson and More.

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