Well after nearly two years of restoration, what is now my aeroplane is almost ready. She's been fully rebuilt by a real craftsman. This is the third Luscombe Pete has rebuilt and as a result of all that work he's has become a technical guru on the type. One of the great things about Pete is that not only is he skilled as an engineer but he has a sympathetic approach to the look of these aeroplanes - it doesn't have to be stock but it does have to look right - and she really looks right!
My Luscombe started life as a Luscombe 8a but was subsequently converted to an 8e model. She's a little unusual in that she's a rag-wing Luscombe. They were built with both rag- and metal wings but mostly you seem to see the metal wing versions. There doesn't appear to any difference in the way the two different wings fly - though it is reckoned that the rag-wings are 50lbs lighter than their aluminium counterparts. When it comes to aeroplanes, lighter is better.
Tucked under that cheeky cowling is a 100hp Continetal, which I hope will see me tearing around the country at a dizzying 85 knots. Does the lack of speed bother me? No way, it just means more time in the air for every journey and more time in the air is what it's all about.
While the aeroplane itself is finished there's still plenty more to do. We're waiting for the permit to test. Once (if) that comes through Pete will do the test flying. After that I need to do my training on her. That could take some time - it takes me a while to learn new motor skills but I really do have to learn those taildragger dance moves. I know I own her but right now I feel more like a guardian and the last thing I want to do is to bend this beautiful aeroplane.
She is a beautiful, smiley and aeroplane and above all she's mine.
[Update: Permit to Test just came through the post today - first flight on Monday hopefully !]
Very pretty!
Posted by: Leia | May 01, 2009 at 09:51 PM
Actually at the moment she's in your neck of the woods.
Posted by: David | May 01, 2009 at 09:57 PM