I just thought I would add my two cents worth on the debate over the Ercoupe article in the January issue of Private Pilot.
I read the comments (mostly negative) a couple weeks ago. Then I forget completely about the article, until in a moment of winter boredom I picked up the magazine and bought it, without realizing it had the Ercoupe article. First of all, I am pleased anytime I see a story about Ercoupes. I think everyone needs to be exposed to our neat little machine. Its like the little surge I get when I see one in Sport Aviation. There should be more. I was quite impressed with the story. I could not find much wrong with it (given the critical nature of most owners who are in far and away more knowledgeable than a casual aquaintance.) I think the writer gave a very good, and positive overview of the plane, and pretty factually correct. About the only thing I picked up was the comment that you can slide both side windows UP and have two open side windows. I can only do that if I slide one window up and one down. (But maybe this coupe was different.) The comment that the coupe makes a "nice little plane to fly about the patch" is exactly true. We don't go out and buy coupes to transport ourselves and our staff on business flights across the continent. It is not an all weather commuter. It is not even that much of a regular travel machine. Its a fun aircraft, but so are many others. Given the range of interests that the magazine covers, I am quite impressed with the overall article. Its not as good as the AOPA story, which I found very well written. But it may peak some more interest in our little ships. Sure, some of the magazines seem to jump on the bandwagon, when another does an article. But so what. Publicity is publicity, and if it is of a positive nature, there's no downside to it. Steve Finkelman Forney F1 CFIWR ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
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