Luscombe 8F

[Monocock]

A good farm strip plane?

Anyone out there owning operating one?

Let me know as i'm interested and don't want to get in any pitfalls that might easily be avoided.

[LowNSlow]

Check, check and check again the mainspars, especially the port one for intergranular corrosion. It's hard to spot in it's initial stages but takes root rapidly. A new spar will be required.

There have been a rash of these cases recently. It is apparently caused by a bad batch of heat treatment done all those years ago.

If you aren't already in the PFA, you'll need to be to operate a Permit aircraft. Join now and get the mags etc which make an interesting read and usually have Luscombe's for sale. Try their website pfa.org.uk

[Spiney Norman]

Hi Monocock.. . You really need to give Cliff Lovell a ring at Hants Light Plane Services. Tel:01264 860056. Cliff imported most of the Luscombes on the U.K. register and what he doesn't know about Luscombes isn't worth knowing. Yes, they are an excellent Farm strip aeroplane. You might find it difficult to obtain an 8F, (C90 engine), but there are significantly more 8E, (C85, 85hp Continental), versions in the U.K. and there is no real difference in the aircraft performance or fit. The intergranular corrosion problem is definately something you should look out for but it was caused by a poor batch of spars in manufacture. If you get one inspected now and it hasn't got it then you're pretty sure to be O.K. Otherwise the pitfalls are a pretty short list compared to many aeroplanes. Oh, by the way, many of the Luscombes operating were built as 8a models,(no electrics, 65hp Continental), and were upgraded to 8E or even 8F at some time in the past, it was a simple job and shouldn't put you off. Personally I would avoid ragwing versions as there is some doubt about cracking around the wing strut attachment point but there are very few rag wing E's and F's. It's really impossible to import any more as the Luscombe is not allowed onto the PFA permit certification scheme anymore, (newly imported examples that is), and U.S. prices have reached prohibitive levels. Spares are easy to obtain, in fact you can obtain any structural parts via Univair or the Don Luscombe History Foundation.

Spiney