Luscombe, the Greatest General Aviation Innovator 

Dakota, you are definitely in your element when you are in the air. You literally glow. Beautiful. While we miss you on Sailing Doodles, I hope you have every success here. You're a natural, and SO easy on the eyes. Thank you for being here.

Personally I love they don't try to compare these planes, rank them, or price them. It is just a big show and tell of someone doing adult show and tell. It's simple, it doesn't need more explanation or mission statement. "Hey here's a plane, the owner is excited about it".

I have been retired from commercial flying for almost 18 years now (B737 and several turbo props) my first airplane was a 46 Luscombe 8A that I bought for $600 in the late 60’s. It showed me how to fly with precision and helped me develop skills that probably saved my life on more than one occasion. I enjoyed watching this video very much, brings back a lot of great memories.

I have always loved the way this airplane looks like it has a big smile on his face

This channel keeps getting better. Thanks, Dakota. ❤️

Thanks, Dakota- it was so much fun to fly with you. Beautiful job on this video!!

Flying scares me to death. But Dakotas interactions with each pilot. Is so enjoyable and informative. Love these videos 😊

My first flight was in a Luscombe in Farmington New Mexico, 1957...the pilot worked for Big Chief Drilling Co and used it to fly in and out to the drilling rig where he was a crew member...my step father flew with him...the runway was usually just a strip the bulldozer graded out for him...Later In Bluff Utah the pi;pt and my stepfather had a failed take off due to someone driving a large heavy truck across the strip, leaving deep ruts; the plane bounced in the ruts and landed in a wash...we removed the wings and wheeled it out to our homemade trailer camp where we lived...exciting times...He actually did stunts with the little airplane...seems it would fly anywhere...

Such a unique aircraft and so well preserved. It still amazes me that aircraft such as the Luscombe are still flying and doing the job they were designed for nearly 80 years ago. Thanks Dakota and best to Dan as a gracious host. 👍🇦🇺

One of the prettiest airplanes I've ever seen. I live near a small rural municipal airport and there is a guy who on summer evenings will fly slow and low circles around the airport. He has some kind of old little airplane and it looks like so much fun. I'm not a pilot but when I see him I think, what a great way to cool off after a hot summer day.

Thank you for sharing Dan and Dakota,what an awesome plane! Great explanation of the operation of the plane.Great video and always a pleasure to see you Dakota,thanks for sharing and stay safe.

It looks like BlancoLirio's Mightly Luscombe.

what a fun plane. Thank you Dakota

Great video Dakota.

Great episode and video all around. The storytelling about the brand and founder was the icing on the cake! Thank you.

Excellent Episode. I really enjoyed the storyline, as well as the instructions on flying this type of aircraft. Really Well done Dakota. 👏🏽👏🏼👏🏻

Love to see vintage aircraft...Great Video.

Great video! for sure, he sounds, acts and talks like a great instructor. Just showing what adverse yaw is, thats so basic, and I bet most pilots nowadays flying CRJs and E Jets dont know what adverse yaw is. Had the chance almost 30 years ago to get on a Luscombe for a high speed taxi down the rwy since it was out of anual and we ended up flying the length of it, it was great. Beautiful classic all metal airplane.

Thanks Dakota! You're the best!

Thanks, Dakota. Sure brought back some great memories for me seeing Dan's plane on your channel. I spent a lot of time flying with my brother-in-law in the sister plane to this one. The main difference was that it was green on white. He had snow skis for his, and we used to land on Lake Simcoe here in Ontario to do some ice fishing. I remember going out one windy day when there was little or no snow on the ice. We couldn't get out of the plane because it would have blown away. Another Luscombe landed in front of my dads cottage on floats on a glassy, calm day. That little 65 hp engine didn't have enough power to break it free of the water. My dad invited the owner to the cottage with us, where he spent most of the day. Finally, a breeze came up creating some chop, and he was able to take off.

Finally! A real airplane!

Dakota, Another awesome video! Love the mighty Luscimbe!!!

Dakota's best vid (without Bobby) yet.

Hi Dan. Nice to see you and hear your story.

As a CFI that has a Luscombe, I love the plane so much...

That sweet plane is as old as I am, a motorcyclist not a pilot, but my passion was the 'kick start' Nortons of the early '70s... Keeping it simple and pure...

Wife & I have both been up with our great friend Dan in this Jewel of an airplane; way more advanced than I remember my Dad's '41 J-4 Cub Coupe was.

Back in the '60s I had a '46 8a, N71643. It was a great plane.

Dakota does a great job with Flying Doodles. Nice

I owned a 1946 Cessna 120 many years ago and flew it all over the mid-west. No electrical system, no radios, no flaps and hand prop to start. The only way to fly as far as I'm concerned. Real pilots fly tail draggers. Great video!

Dakota...you are definitely in your element....

You and airplanes are like fish and chips..Waiting for more...Thanks..

When I was in college during the 1970's, I was in a flying club and we did a Luscombe restoration (our instructor was an A&P). To my memory it was a late 1930's model. The aircraft was dissassembled down to the major compoenents such as fusalage, wings, stabilizers, control surfaces, engine and mount off, many of the aluminum skins off. We completely redid the control flight control cables, and replaced damaged aluminum skins and panels (this freebie plane was probably in some type of accident). At the very rear of the fusalage where the horizontal and vertical stabilzers join there was a cracked component made of sheet aluminum (can't remember what to call it). I removed it, pounded the aluminum flat to use it for a pattern, traced the outline on a fresh aluminum sheet, cut out the new part, bent it to shape, and riveted if back in place. I did some other minor repairs to the back flight surfaces. The firewall was also cracked, and that was a really big repair. We had about 15 students working under our instructor's supervision. By the end of the school year we were putting the Luscombe back together, but didn't get things entirely finished by graduation time. Our instructor got about 2 man-years of labor, and we got some college credits. It was a great experience, and I did hear that our instructor got if flying a year or so later.

I'm enjoying your work on this and finding the planes interesting. It also makes me miss flying.

Love it! It was a metalized version of the Famed Monocoupe's. Thanks for the video's Kid-0!

I started flying when I was 13 back in the mid 50s. I learned on a Luscombe 8E Silvaire. I think the 8A has a fabric wing doesn’t it. The Silvaire was all metal and it had , I believe , a 90 horse engine. It was truly a way to learn to fly correctly. You had to use the Rudder ! a great airplane. Thanks for the video.

When I was a lad in Bermuda there was a sight-seeing/air-taxi company which flew 4 Luscomes with floats. After the company closed down those aircraft lingered on for a long while.

Those little planes are quite aerobatic also. Lots of fun to fly in.

Beautiful example of the Luscombe. Great video as always. Look forward to new posts all the time!

Great video with two great aviators.

Hey Dakota, great post!! It's fun to see the old school taildraggers. Looking forward to future posts.

Great interview technique. You could really feel his enthusiasm for the Luscombe 8A. Perfect for his mission and instruction.

What a beautiful plane, and basic and as an A&P, basic plans are good!

Great video. Thanks. I've long been a Don Luscombe fan and I now fly a Monocoupe 8A. However, my plane is a wee bit smaller than your Luscombe 8A as it only has an 8 foot wingspan. It flies great but it certainly teaches you how to use the rudder and what adverse yaw is, just like with the big planes.

Good jOB . Wind Sock , now that's old school !

I used to have my students sit in the 152 while pushing down on the tail for the same reason, to demonstrate how high you can pitch up without hitting the tail.

Another stellar video Dakota! Great seeing you again. Great conversation abound. You are going to take this channel straight to a Million Subs in no time! Please be safe!!!

Awesome Job really enjoyed the episode !

👍✅ Another great video Dakota, keep em coming! On the way to 200k ....

Great job Dakota

Enjoyed the heck out of this video! I’m getting my tailwheel endorsement in a new RV-14, and I need a little time with Dan!! Super chill! Nice job presenting Dakota. Can’t wait until the next one!

Very cool video, have always wanted to fly a Luscombe. Looks like a fun airplane to fly… thanks for sharing and looking forward to your next video:-)

Excellent video.. Dan is a great instructor!!

Well done. Really enoyed this one. Me encantó! ❤❤

Mr. Dan!!! ❤❤❤

Congrats Bobby and Dakota on 100k subscribers! 🎉

Great interview and run down of a lovely aircraft, great flying tips too. Long time since I did lazy eights and wheel landings vs 3-pointers? Use as appropriate and keep current in both✌️👍😊💜 My dad had a stunning Luscombe (Dad was a taildragger man by and large), it was imported to the UK and restored by Cliff Lovell in a striking yellow and green scheme with a detailed engine. Sadly dad had to give it up as he hurt his shoulder and couldn't easily hand prop anymore. They're a great aircraft, I've seen one guy doing gentleman's aerobatics in them too✌️😲😀

Seems like a great instructor!

Loved your video. This guy was great. I'd pick him for instruction.

great video enoyed the scenery and learning lots here as well

Great job, Dakota!

What a fantastic flight. Really seems like a cool dude.

They are really fun to spin!

Nice video Dakota. Don seems like a great CFI. Well done.

Great video Dakota! Very interesting airplane!

Great job Dakota! Don’t have much tail wheel time. Kinda want to go get some dual in tail wheel now.😊🇺🇸

Another great one Dakota. 👍😎

Really enjoyed this one liked his explanation on teaching how to fly the plane.

I noticed how you were responsible for your passenger - Excellent !

Another great one Dakota!

Great job, cool old plane!

Enjoyed the video! I've never flown a Luscombe, but had a friend that owned one. An innovative airplane, for sure, but I think Ercoupe was far more innovative, when it was introduced in 1939. Tricycle landing gear, twin tails to reduce the effect of the spiraling slip stream, virtually stall-proof, interconnected controls, etc. Lots of experiments were performed with the Ercoupe: JATO rockets for improved takeoff, tethering the airplane to a pole to allow it to build speed while spinning in a circle to gain speed, as well as floats and skis. Performance was marginal when hot & high, but being able to fly with the windows open is a lot of fun!

Will be a tough one to top!!!!!!

Useless Party Trivia: On the Series 8 (Silvaire, etc.), Don Luscombe planned to utilize a radial engine of some sort like the Phantom, so the firewalls are perfectly round. It's especially evident with the flat 4 engine's cowling off.

Oooo, now I wanna do a 1/3 scale scratch-build for R/C!

Loved this episode. Fun little plane and the owner seemed like a nice guy!

Good content!

When I was a kid my neighbor had a Luscombe that he'd put skis in the winter and land on the lake in front of my house then take me for a ride. It's not a roomy aircraft especially with two people bundled up in winter gear, but it was a lot of fun.

I ha a Cub, bro ha a Luscomb, they were DIFFERENT, loved them both.

Oh my Golly, Dak!!! This was one of the best Flying D's I've watched and a tail dragger no less! Don was a hoot too. He's what we call good people. Even tho I miss you on the boat I get to see you here. Even tho you aren't in a bikini you're still rocking the channel. lol Great stuff if you're interested in flying with Eagles

Tuve 2 de estos aviones y me uno sin ninguna duda a lo manifestado, son aviones impresionantes para volar y tremendamente seguros

This is a great video format. Getting to know the owner a bit and having such a knowledgeable guy to interview offers something for pilots and history buffs alike. The cessna 140 was a direct copy of this plane. The Luscombe was actually nore efficient, due to gear fairings and more wingspan.

That’s a cool bird! Really enjoyed that one!!

Hello Dakota another awesome video. This Luscombe airplane is a sweet find. For training or local recreational flights I guess hopefully she's a good piece of equipment. However being an older aircraft I myself would be cautious flying in it. What happens if engine stalls. Hopefully it is a good glider and there's places you can put her down. The gentleman said you got to watch out for the rain and ice as where the location of the carburetor is. You are missed on the sailing channel , but smashing this channel awesomely. Take care catch you next video.

I won’t lie I like the channel and your vast knowledge of planes, but I miss you on a yacht cruising the world⚓️🌴😎💜

Learn alot in this video.

Biggest regret in my life was selling my Luscombe...but alas...life happens. One day I'll buy another. The lessons it taught me translated to so many different types of flying. Great interview.

those were great airplanes.

Great way of showing your students immediately that the prop has plenty of clearance on landing. Just grab the tail and lift it up. Great video! You both fly the stick so easily. I thought you needed to have a yoke style steering control so you could have both hands at 10:00 and 2:00 like a car. Guess not.

Hi Dakota! I really enjoy the show. As a follower of Sailing Doodles, I have some ideas. How about a Flying Doodles hoodie to wear on those chilly flights. Then, in the summer….a Flying Doodles bikini top and maybe some cut off jean shorts? Just an idea to try and tie the 2 shows together. Maybe you could show off a plane in the Bahamas? Key West? You know, keep up that tropical paradise theme everybody loves. Stay safe and keep having fun!! 🤙🏼🌞🌴

So, SO, cool! Super nice guy in a cool, cool plane. Thanks Dakota!

My father has a ‘47 Luscombe 8A. Also no electrical system so it’s hand prop to start. Used to love flying it. It was a little squirrelly but if you could fly it transitioning to any other tail wheel would come pretty easily. Also as a CFI myself I always recommend not wearing sandals when you fly. If you have to get out of that airplane quickly in an emergency you’re really going to wish you weren’t wearing those.

Good one "D"!!!

Cool little airplane. Though, it would be nice to have a bit more visibility to the rear quarters when in the circuit and trying to time the turn from downwind to base.

I currently own 3 Luscombes 😊

Bobby made the right decision, Thank you Girl you do a good job...

I built 100 hours in a metal wing 8A, nice airplane.

I really like these and want one some day! I like the 150 to but there are just cooler!

I think she should have her own plane and do a regular show.

Not a pilot, and don't really like small plane flying. But! Dakota is mmaking these videks interesting and entertaining.