I guess everyone has their list. Here's my list of mods, to be applied either to newly-built airframes or old ones:
(My objective is to build the ultimate easy-to-fly sport airplane with
short-hop
cross-country potential).
1. Fuel tank mod ala Skyport, eliminating the header tank but using
rubber fuel cells for even greater safety.
2. A nice, new panel which is no bigger than the standard one, but
uses
the limited space provide all-electronic displays with a moving
map
dead-center.
3. Seats adjustable fore-and-aft AND in height. Make the seat meet
current strength standards using hi-tech materials WITHOUT a
weight
penalty
4. Shoulder harnesses standard.
5. A nice Lycoming O-235 with that long TBO
6. Usual mods (i.e. bubble windshield, split elevator, etc.)
7. Wings still fabric, but with labor-saving mods to make re-cover as
economical as possible.
8. Design a best-of-both-worlds canopy. One that can shelter like the
Alon
style, but which works a bit more smoothly. AND which can easily
be
removed entirely and left on the ground.
9. Here's the rub: sorry guys, but I'd put the rudder pedals in, and
toe-brakes.
BUT I would retain the rudder/aileron interconnect and install
springs to allow
rudder pressure to over-ride the interconnect (ala Tri-Pacer).
Any mod which altered the fundamental 'feel' and balance of the Ercoupe
would be 'out'
immediately. Short of sprouting wings on your back, nothing feels much
better, and that
cannot be lost.
Greg
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