Donald A. Luscombe
Encyclopedia
Donald Arthur Luscombe was an American
businessman and entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder of Luscombe Aircraft
, a company which produced an advanced (for its time) sheet-metal-fuselage light aircraft during the 1930-1950 time period in the United States.
.
When the US entered World War I
Luscombe volunteered for duty in France, where he served as an ambulance driver. He received a citation for valor for this service.
After returning home, Luscombe married. He and his wife had a girl on 9 February 1922, but she died 19 days later (28 February 1922).
Luscombe died in January 1965. He was buried in the Oakland Cemetery
in Iowa City, Iowa.
. After returning to the United States he launched a career in advertising in Davenport, Iowa
, and purchased a Curtiss JN-4
, which he promptly learned to fly. The Jenny's open cockpit and tandem seating arrangement caused Luscoombe to envision an improved arrangement, with enclosed cockpit and side-by-side seating. He talked several business associates to join with him in forming the Central States Aero Company, Inc.
They hired Clayton Folkerts, a young Iowa farmer, to design and build the aircraft, which they called Monocoupe; the first example emerged in 1927.
In 1928 Luscombe published his first book, Simplified Flying.
In 1933 he moved to Kansas City, Missouri
to found another company, Luscombe Airplane Development Corporation.
The company resumed production of light aircraft when World War II
ended, but a glut of available surplus aircraft caused his company to fail. Its assets were bought by Temco, but Luscombe did not remain in the business.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder of Luscombe Aircraft
Luscombe
Luscombe aircraft 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 a winged-aircraft designer with the Monocoupe series of light aircraft, but he felt...
, a company which produced an advanced (for its time) sheet-metal-fuselage light aircraft during the 1930-1950 time period in the United States.
Biography
Luscombe was born on May 25, 1895, in Iowa City, IowaIowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
.
When the US entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Luscombe volunteered for duty in France, where he served as an ambulance driver. He received a citation for valor for this service.
After returning home, Luscombe married. He and his wife had a girl on 9 February 1922, but she died 19 days later (28 February 1922).
Luscombe died in January 1965. He was buried in the Oakland Cemetery
Oakland Cemetery
Oakland Cemetery is the oldest cemetery, as well as one of the largest green spaces, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded as "Atlanta Cemetery" in 1850 on six acres of land southeast of the city, it was renamed in 1872 to reflect the large number of oak and magnolia trees growing in the area...
in Iowa City, Iowa.
Aircraft career
While in France, Luscombe received his first aeroplane ride, in a French Voisin IIIVoisin III
-Survivors and replicas:There is a Full-scale replica of the Voisin III La on display at the Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, WA near Portland Oregon-References:* * archived from www.caedmon.n-yorks.sch.uk* archived from www.csd.uwo.ca...
. After returning to the United States he launched a career in advertising in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, and purchased a Curtiss JN-4
Curtiss JN-4
The Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" was one of a series of "JN" biplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York, later the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Although the Curtiss JN series was originally produced as a training aircraft for the U.S...
, which he promptly learned to fly. The Jenny's open cockpit and tandem seating arrangement caused Luscoombe to envision an improved arrangement, with enclosed cockpit and side-by-side seating. He talked several business associates to join with him in forming the Central States Aero Company, Inc.
Monocoupe Aircraft
Central States Airplane Company was established in 1927 to build Don A. Luscombe's Monocoupe. In January 1928, the company became the Mono Aircraft Division of Velie Motor Corporation. Following Willard Velie's death in March 1929, the Velie interests were sold to Allied Aviation Industries, a...
They hired Clayton Folkerts, a young Iowa farmer, to design and build the aircraft, which they called Monocoupe; the first example emerged in 1927.
In 1928 Luscombe published his first book, Simplified Flying.
In 1933 he moved to Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
to found another company, Luscombe Airplane Development Corporation.
The company resumed production of light aircraft when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended, but a glut of available surplus aircraft caused his company to fail. Its assets were bought by Temco, but Luscombe did not remain in the business.