I recently flew my Alon in IFR conditions for the first time since I purchased it two years ago, but I earned my IFR rating in an aircraft with every possible navaid and gadget.
I believe that that you must first decide the purpose behind
your IFR training. If you are going to become a professional
pilot, then the 'coupe is the wrong aircraft for your IFR
training because panel space, electrical capacity, and
weight carrying are inadequate (especially when you are
carrying an instructor and need full fuel) for all the
electronic stuff which will cost more than the aircraft. You
no longer need an ADF for a rating, and a DME was never
mandatory, but just try to make some approaches without one!
You could use an approach-certified GPS for non-precision
approaches - is anyone using one in a 'coupe?
If you and your instructor are lightweight, and you are
going for a rating merely to be safe in your 'coupe, then go
for it. What you will miss is all the extra equipment in a
complex aircraft which makes IFR tougher to do by keeping
you busy (variable pitch prop, retractable gear, flaps, fuel
switching and management).
As for equipment, I fly with a single navcom (with flip-flop
display), glideslope, and marker. Of course you pretty much
have to have mode-C in most places. For safely penetrating a
thin overcast going up or down, I feel relatively safe. For
serious IFR flying, I believe the 'coupe needs a heated
pitot and some backup for the vacuum system, plus an
alternate static source.
If you insist on getting your IFR rating in a 'coupe, I'd
purchase only an Alon or a Mooney due to the panel
configuration, which is the same as more current aircraft.
Founey and Ercoupe panels can be quite confusing for IFR,
and will be different from any other plane you will fly in
the future.
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David Smoler | __ |
|==/__ยค_\==|
*==========|==| () |==|===========*
Alon A-2 | \____/ | N6359V
s/n A35 () () () based at RHV
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JR wrote:
>
> Would an Ercoupe make an acceptable IFR trainer?
> If so, what would you actually need to add ?
> Does the lack of flaps affect the merit of your total time?
> Do the Forney mfgd coupes have the center tank ?
> Are there any significant variations between ERC, Forney, Alon ?
> Thanks,
> JR
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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