Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
Renaissance Aircraft's Luscombe 8F light aircraft is on target for certification and first deliveries by the fourth quarter of the year, nearly four decades after production of the piston single was halted. "The first production aircraft is flying and we are taking orders," says Renaissance.
Monkton, Maryland, US-based Renaissance has been allowed access to the original Luscombe 8F design through the Don Luscombe Aviation History Foundation (DLAHF) in Phoenix, Arizona. It has set up a joint venture with Canadian manufacturer Zenair and Czech Aircraft Works of the Czech Republic. Zenair will assemble the first 10 aircraft at its new production site in Eastman, Georgia, and will provide training for the Czech engineers.
"As the Czech workers become more knowledgeable, we will gradually phase out production and transfer all the necessary tooling and jigs to Czech Aircraft Works, where the company will perform labour-intensive subassembly manufacture. The aircraft parts will then be shipped back to Eastman for final assembly," says Renaissance.
The company plans to deliver five to 10 aircraft by the end of the year, rising to around 70 next year, and up to 500 aircraft within five years. "We try to avoid making firm predictions. We will paste production to suit demand," it says.
The all-metal Luscombe will be marketed jointly by Renaissance and Zenair's US affiliate, Aircraft Manufacturing and Development, which is also responsible for the manufacture and sale of the CH2000 trainer in the USA.
The partnership is targeting the private flyer and training markets - mainly within North America - as well as emerging countries, including Africa, the Middle East and the former Eastern Bloc countries. "The Luscombe's rugged construction is well suited to rough use, and it is an ideal aircraft for these markets," says DLAHF president Doug Combs.
The Luscombe will be powered by either a 110-150kW (150-200hp) Textron Lycoming O-320/360 or a Czech-built HP Walter M-32. The price will be about $70,000 for a basic aircraft and $90,000 for an instrument flight rules model. Renaissance has received 16 orders to date.
The Luscombe 8 was conceived by Luscombe in 1931 and, when production was grounded 30 years later, about 7,500 aircraft had been built. Of these, around 3,000 are still flying.
Source: Flight International
