Greetings Craig and congratulations on your new Coupe, I'm sending this through the Coupernet since for some reason your address would not be recognized by my provider.
Its very easy to convert to the coupe. Just cross your legs and drive it away (oversimplification, but crossing your legs will take a lot of strain off the floor board and give you one less thing to think about). It's much harder to convert back. I have to sit in a conventional plane and think things out very carefully each time I change. Couldn't understand why my landings were so bad in a 150 until I realized you don't bring a 150 in at 70-75 mph while using 40 degrees of flaps. It's like going from a sensitive tail dragger where you're all over the rudder pedals while landing and then getting into a tri gear and doing (sometimes, quite severe) "S" turns down the runway while landing the first time. As to the mods, I agree with your idea of driving it for a year or so before doing anything. I'll be willing to bet all your plans will fade quite a bit after finding out how sweet a flyer it is. Rudder pedals are a personal matter. I personally think they are a complete waste in this aircraft and all they do is add weight; others have other opinions. As to turning the mains around and putting on a tail wheel, the geometry would be quite complicated and the side stress on the (now) trailing arms in the forward position would be increased tremendously. Ground handling would be abominable compared to what you now have since you would lose the present negative attack of the wings you have in the tricycle configuration while at the same time having a very short coupled and sensitive tail dragger Also, modifications to the limits on up travel of the horizontal stabilizer would be required to keep the tail on the ground and this in turn would eliminate the spin proof capabilities etc. etc. etc. Just fly it, you'll like it. Dan ---------- From: The Craigmyles <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Couper Culture Date: Saturday, January 09, 1999 8:26 PM I'm preparing to become the next owner of N3719H, a 1946 415C, s/n 4344. This will be my first airplane. I'm 34, a 1,000-hr. CFI and an A&P. I drive 2 hours a day to the flight school I teach at, but I live only 2 minutes from my hometown airport. So plan on commuting to work VFR days in the Ercoupe. Right now, flying without rudder pedals still seems, well, like something important's missing. You probably get this all the time from newcomers to the 'Coupers list: How many hours will it take me to overcome fidget-feet? Rudder-stompin pilot and A&P that I am, the first thing that comes to mind is converting for rudder pedals. Is this an abomination and an insult to a classic and carefully engineered airplane? If that's not shocking enough, how 'bout a really devious daydream: Switch mains around left to right, adapt the wings to accept the gear legs backwards (like a Ryan STA); remove nosewheel; add tailwheel; add more engine "for balance"; polish; and of course apply Army Air Force markings. Mind you, I plan to fly my little 'coupe around for at least a year just as Fred Weick intended her to be. Just having my own airplane is going to be a lifelong dream come true, and 19H is already a nicely renovated Ercoupe with a fresh engine. Will the taildragger Ercoupe fantasy fade as I get to know the classic model? Is tinkering socially acceptable among 'Coupers? Whether I keep her classic or modify, I'm looking forward to my time with 19H... flying along with the wind in my hair... late nights in the shop, spiffing her up her to the swing of a Glenn Miller tune. -Rob Craigmyle, Oneonta New York
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