By Alan Smith

A 1928 Velie Monocoupe by Clayton Folkerts and Don Luscomb. (Jeremy Drey)We all know the famous names that mark the history of the light plane industry. Most of them, like Bill Piper, Clyde Cessna, or Walter Beech are names that are still with us today along with the aircraft being produced by the companies they started.

Then, there is Donald A. Luscombe who really started the idea of the private light plane back in 1927 when, with Iowa farmer Clayton Folkerts, he designed the Monocoupe – the first enclosed cabin, two-seat, high-wing monoplane to be offered to the public. Folkerts built the first prototype and Luscombe teamed up with industrialist W.L. Velie, who had previously manufactured automobiles to build the model 70 Monocoupe from 1927 through 1929 and offer it as “The Ultimate Plane for the Private Flier.” 350 were built and sold, and Don Luscombe was on his way.