Buying/owning a Luscombe 8A ragwing

[Steve]

Anyone on the board ever owned a Luscombe 8A? How are the maintenance costs compared to a Cessna 150? I am looking for something inexpensive to fly around some local airports. Anything I should look out for when buying one?

 

[rfeathe1]

Steve--I've owned 2 Luscombes-- an 8A & a 8E. Both had metal wings. The 8A had a 65 HP Continental & the 8E had an 85 Cont. They are fun airplanes. There have been several ADs on Luscombes in the last few years ( mostly concerning corrosion) that I would be careful of. The 8A burns about 4 GPH & I'm sure an auto fuel STC is available. The 8A did not come from the factory with an electrical system. I have seen some with an air driven generator but most of them don't have any electrics. It should be much cheaper to operate than a C 150. Good luck & have fun.

 

[Steve]

It should be much cheaper to operate than a C 150. Good luck & have fun.

Thanks. That is what I was hoping to hear.

 

[dav8or]

I think the 8E in more perfered and might get a better/easier resale down the road.

 

[luscomeflyer]

luscombe 8A-8E

Steve,

I have owned a 8E-F for 20 yrs, great a/c. It's presently in restoration. Biggest problem lately has been a AD out for intergranular corrision of the metal wing spars. Have yet to do mine??
Might want to contact Steve Krog of the Luscombe Association @ [email protected] or 262/966-7627.
The Assoc. puts out a newsletter each month that a wealth of info on the 8 series if you buy one.
Also the Don Luscombe foundation in Phoenix @ 480/917-0969 would of Great value in locating new and used parts for the 8 series
Wish you luck in locating one and you'll enjoy it, doesnt bite as bad as most belief it does, cause keep dancing on those rudder pedals!!!

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Steve,
I used to own 1186K, which was an 8A. I had a small gel cell and a solar charger that I used to power nav lites and a beacon if I got caught out after dark. Comm was a KX-99 handheld and nav was a sectional and a pair of eyeballs. The 8A seemed to be the best handling of the breed. I flew an 8E occasionally and you could really feel the difference the extra weight of the 85 vs the 65. I also flew a 150HP Larsen conversion and that was pretty interesting. I used to fly the Luscombe Foundation raffle airplanes to different airshows and one year brought one back from Sun and Fun to Chandler, AZ. I also had the pleasure of ferrying 86K across the US to FL.

Feel free to PM with any Luscombe questions. The Luscombe outperformed all of its contemporaries. If anyone has one in the greater PDX area I wouldn't mind hopping a ride with you sometime. I miss those airplanes.