Luscombe Phantom
| Phantom | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Role | Two-seat cabin monoplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Luscombe Aircraft Engineering Company |
| First flight | 1934 |
| Number built | 25 |
The Luscombe Phantom was a 1930s American two-seat cabin monoplane and the first product of the Luscombe Aircraft Engineering Company.
Design and development
[edit]Donald A. Luscombe formed the Luscombe Aircraft Engineering Company in 1933 at Kansas City, Missouri. The Phantom or Model 1 was the first aircraft built by the company, and first flew in 1934. It was a high-wing braced monoplane with conventional fixed tail-wheel landing gear, and was powered by a nose-mounted 145 hp (108 kW) Warner Super Scarab radial engine. The fully enclosed engine cowling, with individual air vents for each cylinder, was unusual for a US radial engine light aircraft. Apart from the fabric wing surfaces, the aircraft was all-metal, and had a luxury interior with two side-by-side seats in an enclosed cabin. All compound curves were formed by one employee, Nick Nordyke.[1] As a luxury aircraft, it failed to sell in the economical climate of 1930s America, and the company went on to develop cheaper and simpler aircraft.
Specifications
[edit]Data from Air Progress
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.6 m)
- Wingspan: 31 ft 0 in (9.4 m)
- Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.1 m)
- Wing area: 143.25 sq ft (13.308 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,320 lb (599 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,950 lb (885 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Warner Super Scarab radial engine , 145 hp (108 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 168 mph (270 km/h, 146 kn)
- Cruise speed: 130 mph (209 km/h, 110 kn)
- Range: 560 mi (901 km, 490 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
See also
[edit]Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
[edit]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Gene Smith. "Phantom!". Air Progress: 45.
Bibliography
[edit]- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Johnson, Caroline. "Pat the Pilot: American Aviatrix, WAFS Member and Allied Liaison". Air & Space Smithsonian. Retrieved 4 April 2020. (World War II story of female US aviator, with pictures of Luscombe Phantom)