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.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
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 wings.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...
. Following
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, 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, and built in 1939 by
Luton Aircraft Limited at its Phoenix Works,
Gerrards Cross
Gerrards Cross is a town and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies immediately south of Chalfont St Peter and a short distance west of the London Borough of Hillingdon, from which it is separated by the parish of Denham, Buckinghams ...
, 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 of
Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
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