Luscombe Valiant..info please
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Luscombe Valiant..info please
I was turning out some old papers last night when I came across a reference to the Luscombe Valiant and Rattler. This was a canard light aircraft built at Ashford airport in the mid-70s in private and light attack versions. The paperwork indicates at least 3 flew but I don't remember seeing one or indeed seeing non-factory photographs. They got an entry in Janes so I assume it was a serious affair. Does anybody have any more info on them that they'd like to share? BTW it was no relation of the American Luscombe family.
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I interviewed the guy, I have a vague memory that his name was Patrick Luscombe. The Rattler was to be armed with a 7.62mm Chain gun IIRC. He was also talking about renovating a Sea Fury
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Thanks chaps. Gainsey, I think you're right about his name. In some blurb I got from the factory it said he was ex-Navy which might explain the Sea-Fury. Did you see any hardware during the interview? I'm just intrigued as to what happened to them apart from the one you mention ORAC. The Air-Britain book had it at Usworth but Newark is a lot nearer and might be an excuse for a visit. Any more info gratefully received.
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Oz,
This was sometime in the mid-80s and I no longer have the notes.
I don't think it actually flew, may be wrong. The Rattler was almost built, but engineless at the time. His basic idea was for lots of Reservists with PPL standards to go strafe the Soviet hordes with them.
If you have access to back copies of Flight International it made a 3/4 page story in the defence section. Sorry no idea what year!
This was sometime in the mid-80s and I no longer have the notes.
I don't think it actually flew, may be wrong. The Rattler was almost built, but engineless at the time. His basic idea was for lots of Reservists with PPL standards to go strafe the Soviet hordes with them.
If you have access to back copies of Flight International it made a 3/4 page story in the defence section. Sorry no idea what year!
There's an entry in Janes All the World's Aircraft 1985-86 on the Valiant and the Rattler - is this the entry you were referring to?
They were developed from the original Vitality dating from 1971 which had racked up over 1300 hours flight testing by 1985.
The Valiant first flew in 1982 and the Rattler in November 1983. There was a planned development of the Rattler with a smaller wing called the Viper.
Alternative armaments considered for the Rattler included 2inch rocket launchers, anti personnel mine dispensers and chaff dispensers. An RPV variant for recce (TV or conventional cameras) or radar jamming was also considered.
GG
They were developed from the original Vitality dating from 1971 which had racked up over 1300 hours flight testing by 1985.
The Valiant first flew in 1982 and the Rattler in November 1983. There was a planned development of the Rattler with a smaller wing called the Viper.
Alternative armaments considered for the Rattler included 2inch rocket launchers, anti personnel mine dispensers and chaff dispensers. An RPV variant for recce (TV or conventional cameras) or radar jamming was also considered.
GG
Last edited by Groundgripper; 2nd Dec 2005 at 10:12.
