Luscombe
Encyclopedia
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 that the tube-and-fabric method of construction
was too expensive and inefficient. He planned to create a light aircraft that was of an 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. Shortly afterwards, the Luscombe School of Aeronautics also opened. Trainees from the school worked in the Luscombe factory, and the school helped support the aircraft company for many years.
In 1936, the company designed and began flying a simplified version of the Phantom known as the Luscombe 90, or Model 4.
The Luscombe Aircraft Corporation was re-formed as a New Jersey
company in 1937
, and a new design was begun. The Luscombe 50 (Model 8) was to become the company's most famous product.
In 1946, Luscombe also introduced the four-place model 11, designed to specifications produced by the Flying Farmers of America.
The firm was bankrupt in 1948 and its assets were purchased the following year by Temco.
Donald A. Luscombe
Donald A. Luscombe
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 sheet-metal-fuselage light aircraft during the 1930-1950 time period in the United States.-Biography:Luscombe was born on May 25, 1895,...
founded the Luscombe aircraft company in 1933
1933 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1933:- Events :* The United States Coast Guard requests authorization to construct its first cutters with a capability of carrying aircraft.* Tokyo conducts it first blackout exercise....
, in 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...
. Luscombe had already made his reputation as a winged-aircraft designer with the Monocoupe
Monocoupe 90
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bell, Dana ed. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Directory of Airplanes their Designers and Manufacturers. Stackpole Books Mechanicsburg, PA, 2002. ISBN 1853674907....
series of light aircraft, but he felt that the tube-and-fabric method of construction
Tube-and-fabric construction
Tube-and-fabric construction is a method of building airframes, which include the fuselages and wings of airplanes. It consists of making a framework of metal tubes and then covering the framework with an aircraft fabric covering....
was too expensive and inefficient. He planned to create a light aircraft that was of an all-metal, monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
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
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, and was incorporated as the Luscombe Aircraft Development Corporation. Shortly afterwards, the Luscombe School of Aeronautics also opened. Trainees from the school worked in the Luscombe factory, and the school helped support the aircraft company for many years.
In 1936, the company designed and began flying a simplified version of the Phantom known as the Luscombe 90, or Model 4.
The Luscombe Aircraft Corporation was re-formed as a New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
company in 1937
1937 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1937:- Events :* The Hawker Hurricane enters service as the Royal Air Forces first monoplane fighter....
, and a new design was begun. The Luscombe 50 (Model 8) was to become the company's most famous product.
In 1946, Luscombe also introduced the four-place model 11, designed to specifications produced by the Flying Farmers of America.
The firm was bankrupt in 1948 and its assets were purchased the following year by Temco.
External links
- The Luscombe Endowment
- Classic Aero Support
- Continental Luscombe Association
- Luscombe Association
- Renaissance Aircraft LLC and Luscombe Silvaire Aircraft
- Team Luscombe
- Quartz Mountain Aerospace
- Cheston Lee EshelmanCheston Lee EshelmanCheston Lee Eshelman was born in McKnightstown, Pennsylvania near Gettysburg, and was an American inventor, aviator, manufacturer of aircraft, boats, garden machinery and small automobiles, and founder of the Cheston L...