Luscombe P3 Rattler Strike G-BKPG

Keith,

The following text on the Rattler Strike is a lift from the current NAM Guide Book; please let me know if this is sufficient information for your requirements.

If not leave it with me until Thursday when I will be able to check in the Museum Archive, where I know there has been some new material put on file! 🙂

“Luscombe P3 Rattler Strike G-BKPG

NAHR status – Noteworthy

Aircrew: One
Span: 10.97 m (36´0˝)
Length: 4.57 m (15´0”)
Height: 1.83 m (6’0”)
Proposed Armament: McDonnell Douglas 7.62 mm chain gun, optional rocket launchers and anti-personnel mine or chaff dispensers
Typical Speed: 145 km/h (90 mph)
Range: 1,595 km (990 miles)
Service Ceiling: not known
Loaded Weight: 839 kg (1,850 lbs)
Power Plant: One 63 kW (85 hp) Limbach 2000 engine

Luscombe Aircraft was formed at Lympne, Kent to design and build lightweight sporting aircraft for private operators. The first project design was initiated in 1971 for the Luscombe Vitality. Subsequently, the company developed a lightweight military version of this aircraft, known as the Rattler and also an ultra-light two-seat civil variant named the Valiant. Later the company also initiated the development of a smaller version of the Rattler known as the Viper.

Subsequently the company started work on a two-seat tandem-wing general-purpose aircraft known as the Ranger, a four-seat variant with a longer fuselage, known as the Super Ranger and a twin-engined development known as the Twin Ranger. Rights in the Ranger series of aircraft eventually transferred to United Aerospace Technologies Ltd, based in Plymouth, Devon. (Mr T Luscombe becoming a joint Director of the Company).

G-BKPG was the pre-production airframe and it flew for the first time on 2nd November 1983. The aircraft was designed to provide quick reaction close military support and also to be easily dismantled for quick deployment around the battlefield. Advice on the best mix of weapons was obtained from the Royal Ordnance Factory but it is not known whether any of the proposed weapon systems were ever tested on the aircraft.

The Luscombe P3 Rattler Strike G-BKPG joined the collection in December 2000. Having been based at Egginton, Derbyshire the Luscombe P3 Rattler Strike was placed on extended loan at the Museum thanks to the good offices of Bill Fearn.”

😀 Or alternatively there is this one available!

Further thoughts

Thank you for your comment Bruce – it’s ‘interesting’ how many situations actually come round time after time!

As so often in life the ‘unexpected’ can have serious potential impacts on any operation. You can show good governance and planning, but unexpected situations arise, which can affect even the best run organisation.

Even when you think you’re in control of your own destiny, external events and decisions can have potentially detrimental impacts on your operation. Examples of this could be at a national level – changes to the Minimum Wage, VAT and Gift Aid; or at a local level possible developments on land or locations close to you could have a potentially negative impact.

These were some of the reasons behind the phrase in my first post of being “both flexible and agile in their thinking” – you need to be able to react quickly and effectively to what any external sources might throw at you!

On further reflection, now days you also need to be aware of the ‘funding challenge’ that you may face and wherever possible try to live within your anticipated means. Whilst there are still funding opportunities around – you have to work hard to secure them and they may only be available in much smaller ‘bites’ than even three or four years ago.

I don’t disagree with you Graham hence my opening comment of, “I can hear the cries of heretic now …”

That said, I believe that digital media could be the way forward; most phones, cameras, gadgets etc already come with digital or online manuals and people are becoming more comfortable with the medium. Whilst I don’t see it replacing every printed item it could be the way forward for subjects with a limited interest.