Interesting. Are these Ercoupes owned by
the military? What is the paint scheme?
Kevin
From: Michael E.
Reeves [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 7:09 PM
To: [email protected]
Hello fellow Ercoupe owners. I am a new member to
this listserve. I have some interesting information that I would like
to share with fellow-members. I am the Commanding Officer of the 491st
Aviation Regiment, ASDF, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
What I believe you'll find particularly interesting is that my regimental
aircraft are 1946 Ercoupe C and D model aircraft. We however refer to
them as PQ13's, the military spec number. The Alaska State Defense
Force (ASDF) is part of the Alaskan National Guard, reporting to the States
Adjutant General, MG Campbell. Our Commander is BG Thomas
Westall. The 491st Aviation Regiment has eight aircraft, seven PQ 13's
and one L16. Our mission is direct support to the 49th Military Police
Brigade. We conduct transportation flights to move MP's from various
locations, we fly aerial photography missions using digital camera equipment,
we fly aerial observation and control missions, and we are often used for
communication platforms for multiple ground units. As you are all very
much aware, the Ercoupe is very inexpensive to operate. The costs of
sending one of my unit's aircraft for a mission mentioned above is
astronomically less expensive than launching a C-130 or Blackhawk.
Because we are so costs effective, our Governor and Adjutant General have
assigned our parent unit a Homeland Security mission. I wanted to share
with those who know and appreciate the Ercoupe the fact that although these
little gems are old in years, they are still doing the job. We attended
a military air show at Elmendorf Air Force Base about a year ago and placed
five of our aircraft under the right wing of a Galaxy C5. We caught a lot of
ribbing about their size, but no one failed to appreciate the benefit of
their operating cost. We're weekend warriors who don't leave our State;
however, the 491st with their PQ13's (Ercoupes) are doing their part. Colonel M.E. Reeves, Commander, 491st Aviation Regiment.
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