Luscombe Phantom

The Luscombe Phantom was a 1930s American two-seat cabin monoplane and the first product of the Luscombe Aircraft Engineering Company.

Phantom
Role Two-seat cabin monoplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Luscombe Aircraft Engineering Company
First flight 1934
Number built 25

Design and development

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

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

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

  • Monocoupe D-145

References
  1. Gene Smith. "Phantom!". Air Progress: 45.
  • 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)
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