Flew a Luscombe 8A today

Grum.Man

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Grum.Man
My dad bought a Luscombe 8A a few months ago but I finally got the chance to fly in it today with him when he came to help me work on the Venture. His is an original 8A with no electrical system.

First of all, there is just something cool about flying such a back to basics airplane. No headset on, no fuel pump, no intercom, just a hand held radio. This was my first time flying in a high wing in a very long time. It was really cool being able to look straight down especially with his patrol style doors. At the same time it was a little nerve racking seeing straight down haha. I was reminded why I hate high wings once I entered the pattern and kept covering up the runway with the upwind wing. Looking at it I was afraid it was going to be really cramped but in fact it wasn't. It was a little short on leg room for me but head and shoulder room was surprisingly good.

It really humbled me flying it though. I'm so used to flying fast airplanes with really high wing loading and responsive controls. I was all over the place and struggled to keep the ball centered. It has lots of adverse yaw and not much of a centering affect in the controls yet a very effective rudder. Being so light with so much wing you just get pushed and bounced by everything. I think I even got some wake turbulence from a passing buzzard.

I was pleasantly surprised by the performance. With full fuel, his 200 lb self and my 170 lb self it got off in no time with a decent climb gradient but not a lot of vertical speed. To only have 65 HP it was a hoot. Not many runways east of the Mississippi that you couldn't fly it from.

I now have a new challenge in life to get more proficient and comfortable in the 8A. Look forward to getting some Luscombe time in the logs.
 
I think a Taylorcraft has to be an eye-opening experience in the same vein. I know a guy who flies one in NM, based at a field of 4,800 ft elevation. Same 65 hp, but a bigger wing than Luscombe. He says that even crosswinds are manageable, thanks to its effective ailerons.
 
Welcome to real flying!! Low horsepower taildraggers will teach you a lot about flying, and you'll notice it in other airplanes you fly too! Keep it up!

My dad bought a Luscombe 8A a few months ago but I finally got the chance to fly in it today with him when he came to help me work on the Venture. His is an original 8A with no electrical system.

First of all, there is just something cool about flying such a back to basics airplane. No headset on, no fuel pump, no intercom, just a hand held radio. This was my first time flying in a high wing in a very long time. It was really cool being able to look straight down especially with his patrol style doors. At the same time it was a little nerve racking seeing straight down haha. I was reminded why I hate high wings once I entered the pattern and kept covering up the runway with the upwind wing. Looking at it I was afraid it was going to be really cramped but in fact it wasn't. It was a little short on leg room for me but head and shoulder room was surprisingly good.

It really humbled me flying it though. I'm so used to flying fast airplanes with really high wing loading and responsive controls. I was all over the place and struggled to keep the ball centered. It has lots of adverse yaw and not much of a centering affect in the controls yet a very effective rudder. Being so light with so much wing you just get pushed and bounced by everything. I think I even got some wake turbulence from a passing buzzard.

I was pleasantly surprised by the performance. With full fuel, his 200 lb self and my 170 lb self it got off in no time with a decent climb gradient but not a lot of vertical speed. To only have 65 HP it was a hoot. Not many runways east of the Mississippi that you couldn't fly it from.

I now have a new challenge in life to get more proficient and comfortable in the 8A. Look forward to getting some Luscombe time in the logs.




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This just makes me head hurt. I have no idea what you are trying to say.. I sure hope they handle crosswinds, otherwise I'd never get anywhere in mine. Have you ever flown a taildragger?

I think a Taylorcraft has to be an eye-opening experience in the same vein. I know a guy who flies one in NM, based at a field of 4,800 ft elevation. Same 65 hp, but a bigger wing than Luscombe. He says that even crosswinds are manageable, thanks to its effective ailerons.




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That's quite a change up from the Venture. :thumbsup:
 
There's quite a difference flying a low wing loading older light plane from a high wing loading one that pretty much punches through the winds and turbulence. You found out that you have to fly it all the time in any kind of winds. It's a different kind of flying and different challenges and rewards too.
Take it up on a perfectly calm morning or evening when it will fly hands off and just do gently turns with your feet alone. On mine, I slide the side window open, hang my elbow out and watch the world go by at 75 mph.
 
There's quite a difference flying a low wing loading older light plane from a high wing loading one that pretty much punches through the winds and turbulence. You found out that you have to fly it all the time in any kind of winds. It's a different kind of flying and different challenges and rewards too.
Take it up on a perfectly calm morning or evening when it will fly hands off and just do gently turns with your feet alone. On mine, I slide the side window open, hang my elbow out and watch the world go by at 75 mph.

Why do you fly so fast? :D
 
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