Hi, Michael. I'm going to let those with the sliding bubble canopy answer about that. I have the original style. > > I've also discovered a lot negative predisposition at my local airport > towards coupes in general. Underpowered, and not a real airplane I guess > because of lack of rudder pedals in most models. Hard to get parts for,
> overpriced, etc... Any thoughts?
>
> Mike
>
The "negitive predisposition" is not unusual. I say "Everything that
flys is beautiful," but what you're flying looks better...
There are "Ercoupe bigots," just like there are "ultralight bigots."
Most of it is from lack of knowledge, and the unwillingness to admit that
not every airplane can fly every mission. The best fit for the Ercoupe
class of light plane is:
* Ease of maintenence, although some parts are rare and hince expensive.
* Ease of operation. I was out of the cockpit for 7 months, and got
right back in with no problem. Try that with the average "war bird"
and you may make a big, smoking hole... The `coupe has its vices,
though.
* Relitively fast. An honest hundred mile an hour airplane; the others
of its era were the 70 - 90 Cubs, etc. Yeah, the T-38 is faster, but
more speed means more money per mile. Which brings up the last point:
* Relitively inexpensive to operate. Yeah, with $2-plus per gallon at
the local airport, it ain't cheap. But you can get an hours flight
out of 5 of those gallons. And you can get the auto gas STC and burn
that.
Of course, I'm biased. So's most every one else on the Coupers Mailing
List. But what the heck. We also can give you fast, reasonable answers.
Use your own best judgement, though. On the Ercoupe and ALL airplanes.
Sure hope you've read this far, for I do know where a "good Alon" is.
Keith Bolte is moving (down?) to a T-34 partnership, and wants to sell
his.
He did some engine work on it this year, and it looks real good. I have a
link to his page, where you can view the plane, at:
http://www.hevanet.com/pwood/couphome.htm
Hope to see you on our list.
Percy in Portland, Oregon, USA
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