The Luton L.A.5 Major was a 1930s
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
two-seat high-wing cabin
monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...
. Following
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, plans were made available to suit construction as a homebuilt aircraft.
History
The original L.A.5 Major was a two-seat light aircraft powered by a 62 hp Walter Mikron II engine. It was designed by
C.H. Latimer-Needham
Cecil Hugh (''Chookie'') Latimer-Needham (20 February 1900 – 5 May 1975) was a British aircraft designer, inventor and aviation author. He is best remembered for the series of aircraft he designed for the Luton Aircraft company and his inventio ...
, and built in 1939 by
Luton Aircraft Limited at its Phoenix Works,
Gerrards Cross
Gerrards Cross is a town and civil parish in south Buckinghamshire, England, separated from the London Borough of Hillingdon at Harefield by Denham, south of Chalfont St Peter and north bordering villages of Fulmer, Hedgerley, Iver Heath and St ...
, Buckinghamshire. The prototype (G-AFMU), designated L.A.5 Major, first flew on 12 March 1939. During 1943, the Phoenix Works burnt down, destroying the prototype, and causing the Luton Aircraft company to close.
[Jackson 1974, p. 261]
After World War II, Phoenix Aircraft Limited, formed by the designer C.H. Latimer-Needham and A.W.J.G. Ord-Hume, took over the design rights for the Luton Major. Latimer-Needham updated the design to make it more suitable for homebuilding, in which form it has become L.A.5A Major, with plans marketed by
Falconar Avia
Falconar Avia was a Canadian aircraft manufacturer based in Edmonton, Alberta. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of kits and plans for amateur construction.Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 1 ...
of
Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anchor ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
as the ''Cubmajor''. An open cockpit version is marketed as the ''Majorette''.
[Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 154. BAI Communications. ]
Variants
;L.A.5 Major
:Prototype, one built.
;L.A.5A Major
:Updated homebuilt version, all homebuilt.
;Falconar Cubmajor
:Version marketed in kit and plans form by Falconar Avia
Specifications (L.A.5)
Notes
Bibliography
*Jackson, A.J. (1974). ''British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3''. Putnam
{{Falconar Avia aircraft
1930s British civil utility aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
High-wing aircraft
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1939