I used to have a 1947 Luscombe 8D. It had metal wings and rear cabin windows. The earlier Model 8s had their fuel tanks mounted in the fuselage, immediately behind the pilot's/passenger's heads (not a great place for 14 gals of fuel in event of a crash!) Hence, the absence of rear windows. The later Model 8s had 24gal wing tanks (one 12gal tank per side) which opened up the space behind the seat for a hat shelf and rear windows. I believe the "Silvaire" name was applied to all the later model 8s by Don Luscombe in order to make the airplane sound special (a marketing ploy) but all model 8s have ultimately become known as Silvaires. The stylized "S" that you see on the cowls of almost all Luscombes these days stand for Silvaire.

My 8D saw all three coasts in the 2-1/2 years (720 flying hours) that I owned her. It was probably the "funnest" airplane I ever owned! I eventually traded her and a '67 Skymaster for a '51 Cessna 195. (Now THAT'S a Brute!)

I wouldn't mind finding a kit or plans of a Luscombe 8. If anybody knows of any, please let me know.

Harvey