Since we went thru about the same as you are with our new coupe a year ago, here are the 2 things we discovered on our first annual: Bolt in nose gear scissors has to be tight and properly bushed to avoid nose wheel shimmy (there is no shimmy damper like modern trigears have); main gear donuts may need attention to keep the tail at proper height. It's imperative that the airplane have 0 angle of attack on the ground, so you can land it crabbed when needed and the wings aren't developing lift when the nose gear settles. other than that, it's pretty normal annual for a simple airplane. Jerry Eichenberger Columbus, Ohio N2906H
>>> "The Craigmyles" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 01/11/99 11:16PM >>>
Thanks to all who responded to my first posting "Couper Culture". You
folks
have greatly increased my appreciation for the airplane as is, and also my
appreciation for the helpful, knowledgeable, and stimulating group of
hands
on, feet folded fliers that you are.
When the bank cuts the check to make this Coupe ours, I will still need to
annual her. So I'll have some quiet time to sit in the cockpit and
overcome
fidget-feet. For now, I've practiced crossing my legs while flight
instructing (with the more advanced students). I'm also learning by
watching my students demonstrate taxiing around with the yoke flopping
left
and right with the turns (ineffective but amusing in Cessnas). I'm also
being trained by my students for flying my 'Coupe, as I watch them turning
the yoke progressively to the stop on rollout, eyes bulging, as the plane
heads for the posies in the opposite direction ("Feet- FEET!"). For a
less dramatic cure, I ask beginning pilots with Ercoupe instincts to taxi
with hands on the glareshield for a flight or two. Flight instructors
see
it every day, that Fred Weick was onto something way back when.
I'm buying Ercoupe # 4344. 6 years ago, the owner (a very talented
machinist) rebuilt the wings with new spars, under IA supervision. The
engine was also overhauled, upgraded to C-85 status, including a new M.-S.
carb. Every since, it's been flown/run regularly, and has less than 300
SMOH. I may not need to do a much to put it back in the air. I'll be
researching all the ADs (especially to see if the "Swiss cheese" one
applies
to rebuilt wings- if it does, my hole saw's ready). I've read a few
things
like http://www.c2-tech.com/~chris/ercoupe.html . Any additional tips
for
first annual of a Coupe will be much appreciated as I get to know her
inside
and out (never worked on or flew one before).
Once again, thanks for the responses... and don't worry, no misguided mods
are going to happen to this classic Ercoupe. Keep the drafty side up
everyone.
!
!
!
!
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