On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:35:10 -0400, Dudley Henriques
wrote in
:


The Luscombe 8A (I don't believe the 8 ) had a letter of limited
aerobatic capability from the CAA dated 1947 included in the aircraft's
operating manual. This letter listed specific aerobatic maneuvers
approved for the 8A after joint tests between Luscombe and the CAA were
performed.

Yep. Here it is:

http://www.popularaviation.com/docs/...Aerobatics.pdf

Article about Luscombe aerobatic "certification":
http://www.popularaviation.com/Lusco...leDtl.asp?id=7
Is the Luscombe Aerobatic?
Disclaimer: PopularAviation.com makes no claim or warranty as to
accuracy of these articles. You and your mechanic are responsible
for your aircraft.

By: Bill Dickey
Posted: Tuesday, July 17, 2001

Updated February 17, 2004

Question: My Instructor is a great aerobatic pilot and says the
Luscombe is a full acrobatic airplane. How aerobatic is the
Luscombe really?.

Answer: The Luscombe is an FAA standard category aircraft. It is
not certified nor built for aerobatics. During World War II a list
of entry speeds for various aerobatic maneuvers was published in
1947 for the Luscombe Airplane Corporation. Its purpose was to aid
sale of Luscombes to schools teaching flying to WW II veterans
learning to fly under Public Law 346. This was the much praised GI
Bill of Rights that paid educational expenses for returning
veterans. The letter from the CAA included both 8A and 8E
airplanes but did not include fabric wing airplanes. The speeds
were the result of an evaluation by a US CAA test pilot who deemed
that the aircraft could safely perform correctly executed mild
aerobatics. This document spawned the myth that the Luscombe 8
series are aerobatic airplanes. (See a PDF version of that
document by clicking here.)

Like a number of people, I misunderstood that the Luscombe was
aerobatic and, twenty five years ago, performed a number of loops,
Immelmans, wingovers, hammerheads and various rolls including snap
rolls. When the airplane was disassembled for restoration three
years ago we discovered that the number 8 fuselage bulkhead
(vertical fin rear spar attach point) was deformed and torn. The
damage may have been due to overstress during the snap rolls.

Can correctly performed 1G aerobatics be safely performed in a
Standard Category airplane? Of course, if you don't make a mistake
that could result in overstress. Is it a good idea to perform
aerobatics in a 50 year old airplane that wasn't designed for
them? Perhaps not.

The Luscombe was marketed as a strong airplane, thus the many
factory photos of two dozen pretty girls perched on the wing.
These images were specifically created to counter the concerns at
the time that a metal airplane was not as strong as airplanes that
had welded steel tube fuselages and laminated wood wing spars.
True, Luscombes are pretty tough, but there are several
Airworthiness Directives on the airframe that were the result of
structural failures or persistent corrosion damage.

As far as aerobatic performance and handling are concerned, the
Luscombe is OK for a low powered airplane. Smooth manuevers are
the result of good technique and careful energy management. Those
heavy ailerons make rolls a bit of work, but it sure does snap
well due to that powerful rudder. Ditto for hammerheads. The
airplane spins well and recoveries are very conventional. Spins,
by the way, are legal in standard category aiplanes (unless
prohibited by placard) for training purposes.

My source of historical data on this topic was a series of
conversations with Mr. Doug Combs, the founder of DLAHF. His
knowledge of the Luscombe type is well known. He also has some
personal experience with in flight structural failures in
Luscombes.

If you decide to perform areobatics in your Luscombe, good
luck--you may need it.

Bill Dickey
Kirkland, WA



Type certificate:
http://www.popularaviation.com/docs/LuscombeTC.pdf

Pilot Operation Handbooks, Service Bulletions and other manuals:
http://www.popularaviation.com/Lusco...mbeManuals.asp

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/8d006abbddeb78428525673c004dd3f3/$FILE/a-694.pdf