Luton Major
title: "Luton Major" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1930s-british-civil-utility-aircraft", "homebuilt-aircraft", "high-wing-aircraft", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1939"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luton_Major" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | L.A.5 Major |
| image | Luton Major-1010.jpg |
| caption | Luton LA.5 Major, 1939 |
| type | Two-seat cabin monoplane |
| manufacturer | Homebuilt |
| designer | C.H. Latimer-Needham |
| first_flight | 12 March 1939 |
| :: |
|name = L.A.5 Major |image = Luton Major-1010.jpg |caption = Luton LA.5 Major, 1939 |type = Two-seat cabin monoplane |manufacturer = Homebuilt |designer = C.H. Latimer-Needham |first_flight = 12 March 1939 |introduction = |retired = |produced = |number_built = |status = |unit cost = |primary_user = |more_users = |developed_from = |variants = The Luton L.A.5 Major was a 1930s British two-seat high-wing cabin monoplane. Following World War II, 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, 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.
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, Canada as the Cubmajor. An open cockpit version is marketed as the Majorette.
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 ;Falconar Majorette :Version with open cockpit marketed in kit and plans form by Falconar Avia
Specifications (L.A.5)
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 |prime units?=imp General characteristics
|crew=1 |capacity=1 |length ft=23 |length in=9 |length note= |span ft=35 |span in=2 |span note= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqft=163 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil=RAF 48 |empty weight lb=600 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=1030 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=11 impgal |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Walter Mikron II |eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine |eng1 hp=62 |eng1 note= |prop blade number=2 |prop name= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note= Performance
|max speed mph=105 |max speed note= |cruise speed mph=95 |cruise speed note= |stall speed mph=35 |stall speed note= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed note= |range miles=300 |range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ftmin=700 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |more performance=
|avionics=
Notes
Bibliography
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. Putnam
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References
- Aithur W. J. G. Ord-Hume. (September 1965). "Major Revival". Sport Aviation.
- Jackson 1974, p. 261
- . Air Trails. (Winter 1971)
- Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 154. BAI Communications. {{ISBN. 0-9636409-4-1
- (1957). "Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59". Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd..
- "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage".
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