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Luscombe Phantom

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Phantom
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

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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

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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

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Gene Smith. "Phantom!". Air Progress: 45.

Bibliography

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  • 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)