----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Lou, I'm certainly not an expert on this stuff. I have two cents, though, and you're welcome to them. The definitive authority for modifications is the engineer at your local FAA Flight Service District Office (FSDO). They approve or reject modifications. May I suggest this: Discussion: Cars need frequent power changes for passing, station keeping, hills, etc. Airplanes need very few, relatively, power changes. Staying for a longer time at a single power setting may be less demanding on the engine. [Mechanics and engineers, please comment.] For cruising in airplanes, we set a power setting and stay with it for hours. For cruise, you might try getting approval on a hand throttle on the yoke, instead. I'd want it to have a friction lock as well. The most dynamic part of flying is take-off and landing and a foot throttle would give better control than trying to juggle throttle, yoke and switches. If you were to put a foot throttle on the floor, I'd put a support on the side of the throttle with a friction surface. Then you can lean your foot against the footrest for stability in turbulence and better consistency for long cruise legs. Again, all depends on what your FAA staff member will approve. In the last few years, we've seen a strong tendency for them to be chickens, afraid to risk their careers for anything where they can conceive a possible fault. Proposal: You might want to hire an FAA designated engineering representative (an engineer who is NOT an FAA staff member) to do an enginnering analysis of your ideas. Then when you present your proposal to the FAA for approval, you have an engineering analysis. With an engineering analysis, they can point to someone else to blame if you fly into a cloud and your relatives sue everyone in sight. Perhaps it would be good to include the FAA staff engineer in the development of the project. If they pee in it, they might like the taste better. Good luck.
Ed Burkhead N3802H, Ercoupe 415-D Peoria, IL -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 07, 2001 8:31 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: coupe Hello! My name is Lou Brookman, i would like to find out if a plane without foot rudders could be converted to a foot throttle? I lost my right arm in a racing accident a year ago, and after talking to a flyer friend he told me about the coupe and i an interested in learning to fly. I found your article very informative. Can you help me or direct me to someone who could tell me if a foot throttle is probable. Thanks, my email is [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 -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
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