Flying a 1945 Luscombe 8A tailwheel airplane

[@bryanspayde8688]

I just bought a 1947 luscombe 8a got my first tail wheel lesson yesterday what fun ! I also have a 2007 jabiru I love but the old luscombe just has old school fun to it . I’m going out again this morning.

[@thisoldpilot2151]

That's awesome! I love Luscombes. All the best to you on your adventures!

[@Emslander]

My Uncle Bob bought a Luscombe for $900 in about 1956. He repainted it a sort of purple pink color and, per a popular song at the time, everybody in the Decatur, Illinois general aviation crowd called it a”Flying Purple People Eater”. I got my first small craft flights in it and actually took the controls a few times. It was a solid little plane. We often climbed to over 10,000 feet dodging the summer thunderclouds.

[@thisoldpilot2151]

The Luscombe is a great airplane, and I wish they were still available for $900! Thanks for watching!

[@WG7D]

My first Luscombe 8F had the same paint, great aircraft. Mike WG7D

[@angelanbrentenlowndavis2949]

Love it, reminds me a lot of my cessna 140. Pretty bird, great videos. Thanks brunches.

[@thisoldpilot2151]

Yep, similar design. Biggest difference is in the landing gear and engine. Both are good flyers. Thanks for watching!

[@jerrysmith5782]

Nice to see someone who actually knows how to do wheel landings... especially apparent on 3rd landing. Often I see pilots trying to achieve a wheel landing without quickly popping the stick forward to force the aircraft to stay on the ground...which may work under calm conditions, but is unrealistic under most conditions and pilot skill levels. On my solo 100-mile X-country to Healdsburg, CA, in a Luscombe 8A, I encountered ~ 10-15mph 90-degree gusty X-winds on a relatively narrow runway, and was able to successfully land by aggressively popping the stick forward to force the aircraft to stay on the ground to avoid drifting off of the runway with the wind. I was young then...now I would instead divert to another airport. 😊

[@thisoldpilot2151]

Thanks for the compliment. The Luscombe is very controllable in crosswind landings with a skilled, proficient pilot. 40 years ago I was taught wheel landings before 3 point landings. I still prefer wheel landings. The strongest crosswind I encountered with my Luscombe was 17 gusting to 26 knots, which was challenging. I would never advise attempting a moderate or strong crosswind if you're a freshy who just got a tailwheel endorsement. Thanks for watching!

[@Kookamungawerewolf]

Did somebody sneak a Johnny Popper 2cylinder engine in there???? 🤔 Beautiful airplane, Just got a set of 1/8 scale plans to build a 51 wing span RC model.

[@davidhames319]

AKA conventional gear also. Nice pattern work 👍

[@thisoldpilot2151]

Thank you!

[@TommyFresh521]

Great video, Matt!

[@thisoldpilot2151]

Thanks!

[@tobiashume6040]

quelle belle machine!

[@deepsixman]

So do you leave the carb heat on for take off? I see you have the fuselage tank. My 1946 8A is placarded for heat on the center tank which I find unhelpful and take off on the wing tank when fuel allows.

[@thisoldpilot2151]

Yes, I left carb heat on. Thanks for watching!

[@locopatojo2]

Sweet plane, nice landings

[@thisoldpilot2151]

Thanks a lot! And keep pursuing your aviation dream!

[@lynnkramer1211]

Which of those vintage airplanes have stick and rudder controls? Which ones don't have them?

[@thisoldpilot2151]

The Luscombe is stick and rudder. The Taylorcraft is Yoke and rudder. The Ercoupe is just 2 axis control.

[@WaltBankes]

Hummmm... no three point landings? Seems like that's hard on tires. I think I heard tire chirps. Eek!

[@thisoldpilot2151]

No 3 point landings that day. Haven’t had to replace the tires. With the wind we have here, I wheel land mostly.

[@jimkillingbeck3597]

Is it more difficult to do a three point landing in this all metal plane than in a tube and fabric plane such as a Taylorcraft or Cub?

[@tomclark6271]

Tail dragger=Conventional gear. Tricycle gear=Training wheels.

[@thisoldpilot2151]

Oh so true!!! Thanks for watching!