This 1947 Luscombe 8E’s Nimble Handling Makes It an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Today’s Top Pick is a 1947 Luscombe 8E.

The first Luscombe 8-series aircraft came to market during the late 1930s, and while not as popular as the Piper Cub, they did sell in the thousands before production switched to wartime military production. The design stood out among rivals because it had a metal fuselage and side-by-side seating for two instead of the usual tandem arrangement. Most prewar Luscombes were ultra simple with no electrical systems and the bare minimum instrumentation and amenities. Many early models qualify as light sport aircraft (LSA) today.

The Luscombe 8E for sale here would have come with postwar upgrades like electrics for operating starters and a more effective instrument package. Later models also had metal-covered wings, replacing the earlier models’ fabric. The postwar airplanes might be easier for modern pilots to live with, but they generally weigh a bit too much to qualify as LSAs. You win some, you lose some, but all Luscombe 8s are known for nimble handling that makes them especially fun to fly.

This 1947 Luscombe has 7,315 hours on the airframe and 420 hours on its Continental O-200A engine since it was overhauled in 1999. The aircraft has a current annual inspection.

The panel includes a Bendix/King radio and transponder, uAvionix ADS-B tail beacon, EI digital oil temperature and pressure, PM1000 intercom, master power and avionics switches, landing lights, strobes, cabin heat, vertical card compass, and digital chronometer.

Pilots looking for a not-so-common classic taildragger with the rare combination of metal construction, side-by-side seating, and control sticks instead of yokes should take a close look at this 1947 Luscombe 8E, which is available for $55,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.