In a message dated 2/11/99 7:04:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Now I don't have a lot of time in Ercoupes, actually never even landed one. But I do have about 3500 hours of military flying time, and I am somewhat confused about this turning away from the wind thing of yours. >> I think what we have here is a failure to communicate. Lots of people can fly airplanes but very few of them can explain just how they do it. I fly the Boeing 727 for a living and Ercoupes for fun. I have over 3,000 hours in tailwheels most of which were in Beech 18s and DC-3s. I learned to fly in a J-3 Cub over 40 years ago. I know that I can fly an airplane but would probably confuse most people if I tried to explain how I do it. I believe that most A/C fly the same whether they weigh 170,000 pounds like the 727 or less then 2000 like my Coupe. I am not sure just what subject we are talking about here but I think that it has something to do with the Ercoupe landing in a cross wind. The Ercoupe does an outstanding job in a cross wind not because of the super pilots who fly them but because of the Genius (Fred Weick) who designed it 60 years ago. If asked to explain how to land a Coupe in a cross wind I would say both mains first in a crab with the nose slightly off the ground and at the minimum safe controllable speed. Excessive touch speed will just cause more wear and tear on the A/C as it slows down. Upon touchdown the aircraft will caster around auto-majically into the proper track down the runway. Whatever needs to be done to maintain control of the A/C just kind of comes naturally. You have to try pretty hard to screw it up but I suppose some folks could do that. I warned you that I would just confuse you. I would much rather land my Ercoupe in a really bad cross wind than my Cessna 170 (a tailwheel). The Ercoupe is much safer and easier to control in gusty conditions then any tail wheel I have ever flown and there have been lots of them. It works great and last a long time if you properly maintain it. I don't know how it do but it does. kim N3036H N3064A N424EX NC PS I will now cut off my computer for the next week so you can talk bad about me.
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
