The Luscombe aircraft, military verison, UC90A, was a neat little two seat trainer, and light observation aircraft. Powered by a Continental 65 horse power engine moving along at a 90 MPH pace, you could certainly study the terrain as you flew over, as you had plenty of time to look!
While the military had official duties for this great little aircraft, I found a different use for it in 1950. Here's the story!
Went to a local high school basketball game one evening and as I walked in, there was not much place to sit down in that small gym. I spotted a young lady, with an open seat beside her and of course, being "bashful" and all, I wondered over and asked if I may sit down? The young lady turned to me and said yes! Long, flowing brown hair down to almost her waist, 2 big old brown eyes and when she blinked a couple of times, my knees when weak, my heart started pounding, starting to sweat, and I knew in a flash that I had, had it! I stuttered though a few minutes of chit, chat, then ask for her phone number. We don't have phone service as yet at our house! OK, "tater", now what, they don't have "poney express" any more, postal service "Sucks" and she lives 12 miles away from you! Her mother who was sitting beside her, leaned over and said, "our church is having a fish fry on Sat at 1PM, why don't you plan on coming for that"! Lady Fortune had smiled on me again!
While at the fish fry, I devised a plan, where I could communicate with her when I wanted a date! That's where the Luscombe came into to play. I informed her that I was a pilot, (had about 80 hours and finally had gotten a student certificate), and with that "impressive" bit of news, she was all ears about the plan.
Some of the men in the local area had formed a "flying club", complete with the purchase of a Luscombe 8A and after worming my way in as a member I was elected to the "Gopher" position, had to keep it clean at all times, gased up, full oil and ready for anyone to use. I had to "wax" it every other month!
I explained to "Sandy", that was her name, that I would fly over her house, drop a note of invitation for a date, then I would be up in my "impressive 38 Ford coupe, complete with a "rumble" seat and pick her up! Problem with that was the old Ford would only run at idle or wide open, no where in between, as if you tried it, thing would spit and cough like 2 cats fighting out at the barn! Served me well for about a year and one day, it made a sound like a covey of Quail leaving out and it never ran again.
I took some strips of old torn sheets from mom, a "lead" sample bottle from dads chemical and forged me a drop system. I would then fly up to her house, open the window, throw out the note and watch the neighborhood kids chase after the bottle. Sandy woud give the kid who brought it to her a quarter for picking it up and bringing to her.
After 3 or 4 months of this nonsense, I finally talked her parents into bringing her to the airport, so I could take her for a ride.
I should have told her to wear blue jeans, but I didn't, and she showed up in a big ole flowery looking dress which almost reached her ankles. Right away, I could see trouble coming down the chute!
The Luscombe had two control sticks, which curved up and back and when in the full back position, was almost touching your crotch area! The thing had "heel" brake pedals and the rudder pedals were real close together.
After seating her in the Luscombe, she pushed the stick forward to get her legs in and right away, I said to myself, "tater" this could get interesting! Had a friend hand prop the thing while I was inside the cockpit with her,, as I was afraid she might jump out and run ! Taxiing out for takeoff, I had her place her feet either side of the stick. I didn't dare hold back pressure on the stick as you were supposed to. During takeoff, holding forward pressure on stick to get the tail up, then a little back pressure to get airborne and "bang", the stick on her side was lifting her dress and she would reach down and push it forward, mind you, we were only about a 100 feet high, and I was pulling back and she was pushing forward and I finally told her to stop and I reached over and lifted her dress over the stick. Oh crap "tater", you done it now, here is the most beautiful female you had ever seen, and you just built a circus tent pole right between her legs! By now, I realize that when I landed, that stick would be where no man is allowed! Holy crap, bat man, what you going to do now? Now after a few turns, demonstrating my superior piloting skills, she is now turning green and I knew I could no longer put it off, I had to land this thing. While flying around and every time I moved the stick, her dress would move and she is looking more disgusted with each passing minute!
I set up the approach and landing and as we were about to touch down, she could not stand it any longer and she pushed forward on the "tent" and lo and behold, a perfect "wheel" landing in a Luscombe, which was very hard to do!
Sandy and I had 3 wonderful children together, and she passed away in 89 from cancer! I loved her dearly and still think of her today!!!
(This is from one of the chapters in the book I am writing)
