Luscombe Shows Off Spartan 185 at AS3 Supplier Show

Luscombe Aircraft Corp. (Oklahoma City, OK) chose the AS3 SuperShow in Tampa, FL, this week to show off its "latest" four-place, single-engine aircraft, the Spartan 185 Model 11E.

The 11E is a new, all-metal aircraft based in part on Don Luscombe's Silvaire, which was produced from 1938 to 1961. More than 6,000 model 8 aircraft based on Luscombe's designs were manufactured and nearly 2,500 are still flying.

The new design includes cost-saving production and manufacturing techniques that require fewer assembly parts and a more efficient wing that can be mass-produced. The gross weight also was lowered to enhance handling capabilities and increase the useful load. Luscombe plans to introduce additional versions including a floatplane.

The Spartan is powered by a Teledyne Continental IO 360-ES six-cylinder, 185 horsepower engine and avionics are supplied by UPS Aviation Technologies and Bendix King. At $147,500, the Spartan is designed to be competitive with the Cessna 182 in performance and the Cessna 172 in cost.

By David Robb