The latest video posted on the Flying Doodles YouTube channel features a 1946 Luscombe 8A.
“Don Luscombe dedicated his career to the development of an all-metal aircraft that could be used in the general aviation space,” the video’s introduction reads. “The resulting design of the series 8 Luscombe proved to be an economical cruiser with effective flight controls. Sometimes referred to as the Silvaire, almost 6,000 of these aircraft were produced in the 1930s and 1940s and acted as a successful blueprint to succeeding airframes.”
The Flying Doodles fly a different plane in each video and interview the pilots who fly them.
I was in a partnership that sold our Luscombe last year due to issues beyond anyone’s control. It is an absolutely wonderful aircraft – if you ever get a chance to fly in one, treat yourself to a great experience. If you have an opportunity to buy one, and if it passes a thorough pre-buy inspection, don’t hesitate. Then remember you may be the pilot, but you are also the custodian of a very important piece of history.
It’s too bad that the pilot of a Luscombe must be 5’7” or less in order to fit in one with the ability to see out the side window…a trait that many homebuilt aircraft also share.
At 6’ tall I look at the wing root in a Luscombe. The advantage is that I would always have a great view of the fuel gauge!
Excellent introduction to tail wheel flying! Every single pilot should be proficient at flying a tail wheel aircraft! The name of the game is stick and rudder no matter the size of the aircraft!