TYPE: Four-seat lightplane.

PROGRAMME: Model 11A Sedan first flew (NX74202) 11 September 1946; certified 4 October 1948; total of 198 built with tailwheel and 123 kW (165 hp) Continental E-165 engine; production ended in 1949; 41 remained registered in US during 2002. Planned 1970 relaunch as Alpha Aviation Alpha IID failed to materialise.
Considerably redesigned Luscombe 185-11E being produced at Altus, Oklahoma, following conversion of Sedan N1674B as proof-of-concept followed by construction of preproduction prototype (N747BM, c/n 00995; later NX11E) for certification. Initially marketed under name of Spartan, which had been dropped by 2002. First production aircraft/demonstrator N11XA.
Structural test fuselage completed December 1997; production of new aircraft due to have started April 2000, but this slipped to early 2004. Certification for sales and marketing purposes awarded November 1998, with full type certification received 17 December 2002.
Changes from original include engine, 24 V electrical system, nosewheel, composites engine cowling, modified windscreen, electric (formerly hydraulic) flaps, electric (formerly manual) elevator trim and three-point seatbelts.

CUSTOMERS: By late 1998, orders believed to exceed 300; two (including prototype) registered by October 2001. Announced customers include the US Civil Air Patrol, which has ordered eight.

COSTS: US$155,900 basic (2003).

DESIGN FEATURES: High-wing braced monoplane; original 1946 gesign modified for nosewheel and 0.30 m (1 ft 0 in) increase in constant-chord inner wing, with sweptforward outer trailing-edge and Hoemer-style wingtips; tapered tailplane; slightly sweptback fin with ventral fillet. Wing section NACA 43012A.

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Stainless steel control cables. All control surfaces aluminium skinned with external stiffeners. horn-balanced elevators with flight-adjustable, electric trim tab on port side; ground-adjustable tab on starboard aileron. Control movements: ailerons +15/-9°, elevators +29/-13° and rudder ±15°. Three-position electric flaps; maximum deflection 25°.

STRUCTURE: Steel tube semi-monocoque corrosion-proofed fuselage and strut-braced two-spar wings, all covered with aluminium skins, except composites engine cowling. Dorsal tail fillet.

LANDING GEAR: Alloy spring leaf main legs with 6.00-6 tyres, pressure 2.4 bar (35 lb/sq in). Air/oil shock-absorbing strut nose gear with 5.00-5 tyre, pressure 1.7 bar (25 lb/sq in), steerable ±10°. Hydraulic disc brakes and parking brake on mainwheels; turning radius approximately 8.23 m (27 ft 0 in).

POWER PLANT: One 157 kW (210 hp) Teledyne Continental IO-360-ES4 six-cylinder fuel-injected piston engine derated to 138 kW (185 hp) and driving a McCaulley 1B235/EFC7667 two-blade fixed-pitch metal propeller with D4245 spinner. Fuel capacity 159 litres (42.0 US gallons; 35.0 Imp gallons) in two bladder wing tanks, of which 152 litres (40.0 US gallons; 33.3 Imp gallons) are usable. Filler port in each wing. Oil capacity 7.5 litres (2.0 US gallons; 1.6 Imp gallons). Proof-of-concept aircraft has three-blade propeller, which is optional on production airframes.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and three passengers in side-by-side pairs; door each side; front seats fully adjustable; dual controls. Inertial reel harnesses for all seats. Cabin windows are tinted, as are two vision ports in cabin roof.

SYSTEMS: 28 V 70 A alternator; 24 V 12.75 Ah battery; dual vacuum pumps.

AVIONICS: Comms: Garmin GNC 250XL GPS/com, GTX 327 transponder and GMA 340 audio panel standard. GTX 330 transponder and Senheiser HMEC 300/BP-03 or HME 100 headsets optional.
Flight: Garmin GNS 430 or GNS 530 GPS/com/nav, GI 106A CDI and flight data recorder optional.
Instrumentation: Altimeter, compass, ASI, VSI, turn coordinator, ammeter, OAT gauge, vacuum gauge, fuel gauge, tachometer, EGT gauge and oil pressure gauge standard.

EQUIPMENT: Position lights, strobe lights and white paint with accent colour all standard. Options include leather seats, ergonomic seating package, Rosen sun visors, wheel fairings, metallic paint accent strip and polished propeller spinner.