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The little Ercoupe is much maligned in certain circles. The taildragger crowd often laugh at us who have a "training wheel" on the front of our plane. It's true, appearance-wise many taildraggers do look quite impressive. Can you see a P-51 Mustang or a Spitfire with a nose wheel? In reality it is more vanity and pride that makes rear wheelers feel good about themselves and their planes. Coming back to the real world, read accident reports on taildraggers and they are significantly higher. Many beautiful planes have been written off because of an unexpected ground look or a nose over. The dynamics of a nose wheel plane eliminate many of these problems. Having the majority of the weight ahead of the main gear gives an automatic straightening effect on touchdown. Those of us with coupes can verify this when we touch down in a good crosswind. The pendulum effect swings the nose into the line of travel. Nosing a coupe over by applying too much brake is virtually impossible. The co-ordinated controls of the Ercoupe also bring jeers of "Sissy", "Woosy plane", etc. Oh no, a perfect turn every time. What could be worse? The fact that we can't spin and there is virtually no stall, only a mush, is considered by many to be an un-manly kind of thing. Just ask all the wives, husbands, children, and friends if they don't wish their loved one had been flying in a plane that didn't drop a wing and auger in when turning final. This sport we have can be wonderful or tragic. Much depends on the type of bird we fly and our attitude to safety. So let's fly our woosy, little, three wheeled, co-ordinated controlled, non-spinning, safety planes and stay alive while others play the game and become famous mostly in newspaper headlines or the six o'clock news. Jon Page 415-C #2675 __________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiLm.aVzvvT Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01 ==^================================================================
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