Dave Marshall wrote: > > After subscribing to the Ercoupe thread for several months, I would like > to get some opinions. My perception is that the Ercoupe and derivatives > are maintenance hogs, or hanger queens. Perhaps the only 'coupe owners > who are active on the thread are those having problems or enjoy > tinkering and the large majority are silently enjoying their coupes, > with no significant problems. Also, after checking Trade-A-Plane for > quite a few months, I find that there are only a few Ercoupes listed > each month versus a several pages of C-150/172's. Of the 5000-6000 > built, are they so popular no one wants to sell or are most of them > derelicts, beyond hope of redemption. > > I am retired AF and fly with the local military aero club where I can > rent C-172's and T-41's for $45-50 an hour. I'm getting really tired of > the scheduling conflicts and BS that goes with any military organization > so I'm looking for an alternative. If I can't own and fly an Ercoupe > cheaper than that, I'll stick with the aero club and perhaps build an > experimental. > > I hope my perception is wrong and these are simple, fun, inexpensive > planes to fly, and don't spend 99% of the time torn down in the hanger. > I'd sure like to know before I jump in with both feet and buy money > pit. > > Any comments, words of wisdom, etc. would be appreciated. > Thanks to all, > Dave in Alamogordo, NM
Hi Dave and welcome aboard!
If you just read the posting that I placed about my "mystery
problem"
this could happen to any thing with an engine, including cars, boats,
motorcycles, or motorized skateboards.
In the 13 years that I've owned my coupe this is the only thing
I've
ever done to it except for annuals.
I've been flying since long before I was old enough to 'solo' and
I'm
now retired. For several years I was looking for a plane to buy, just
like you are now, but I couldn't find the 'right' plane for me. I'd been
renting C150's and C172's. Then changed to the newer low-wing pipers for
a few years (I definately liked the low-wings better, for both handling
and visibility.)
One day a friend of mine mentioned that he was thinking about
selling
his plane as he didn't have time to fly it enough to justify the money
he had invested. (I think his wife helped him make this decision)
To make a long story short, he took me for about a 15 or 20 minute
ride
and when we landed I wrote him a check for it and the hangar. It was the
first plane that just 'felt right' to me. I have never been sorry that
I bought it and I wouldn't trade it (or sell it) now for anything other
than permanent loss of medical. It's been the most fun, least
maintenance and least expensive plane I've ever flown. (If it was a 4
place, 300mph and still retaineded all it's other qualities it would be
the 'perfect' plane! ;-)
Go ahead, jump in there and buy one. I doubt very much that you'll
ever
regret it.
Find a local couper and go for a ride with him. (Take your check
book
with you.)
Bob Saville
N3396H 415C
Eugene, OR
BTW, I'm also retired USAF.
Where do you live?
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