----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
What makes a person a Couper, you ask? Interesting question. I flew with my dad in his Ercoupe, back in 1971: a white bird with light green stripes, N3134H, a 1946 415-C. To this day, I remember the smell of the cabin, the chromed master switches, the drone of the engine... There's a little brass plaque on his dining room wall, with a line drawing of the Ercoupe, complete with a little N3134H on its side. As I climb the stairs, there's a favorite photograph of the family in front of the port wing: three boys, two little girls, and proud parents keeping the crew looking at the camera. I'm in the foreground, cupping my hands over my eyes in the bright afternoon sun. I was only seven years old then. My little brother took a liking to flying, and joined the Air Force years ago. He flew the B-52, and then the B-1B. He now flies for American Airlines, and enjoys his SNJ-2 when he has the time (It's serial number 2!). I spent a few years hopping off a Bell 205- (UH1H) Super Huey with the Orange County Fire Authority, assigned with Fire Crew 57. That was great sport, though the stress was a bit extreme for my wife, especially when the boys at the station would share some "war stories" about recent fires. Adrenaline set aside, I still missed flying in the little Ercoupe. A rotary wing is a completely different experience- added to the fact that I had other things on my mind like terrain, weather, and fire behavior on my mind. About 20 years ago, my brother and I were at the El Toro MCAS enjoying the air show, looking at a line of warbirds parked at the edge of the taxiway, when both of us completely abandoned the line of fighters. Parked at the end of these large birds was a beautiful silver Ercoupe, the pilot rubbing the canopy with a polishing rag. We were elated, and HAD to say hello, and look her over. He was surprised that his 'Coupe was getting center stage. Still, the wee Ercoupe has a place closest to our hearts. Today, at 38 years of age, I still yearn to own an Ercoupe. My three little girls love the cute H-tailed plane that daddy used to fly with grandpa; my youngest, just turned five, wants to go for a ride when daddy finds one. I don't know what has happened to N3134H since my father had to sell it in late 1971 (job transfer). An interesting note, her number is famous; try it in any search engine. She was in a hard landing later, in July 1972. If what I still feel today for that little Ercoupe could be put into words, I'd have to say that's definitely what makes a person a "Couper!" Bob Borchert San Clemente, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: "kathyw" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 6:48 PM Subject: [COUPERS-FLYIN] What makes a person a "Couper"? > ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- > > > Hello group. 8/24 > > I'm taking a survey. What makes a person a "Couper"? > > Is it "ownership" of some model of Coupe, or "love/appreciation" of Fred E. Weick's design? Does the person have to have "piloted a Coupe" at least once? How about just "a ride or two" in a Coupe? > > If it IS ownership of a Coupe, then what happens when that Couper HAS to sell for whatever reason... something "out of their control" like a lost medical, legal fees, job loss, etc., etc.? Does that mean they are no longer a "Couper"?? Will the rest of the group treat them as before, or should they be banished by their previous Coupe friends because they no longer "own" a Coupe? > > Please vote your opinion. Kathy Wilson 415-D N3281H > ========================================================================== == == > To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm > Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/ > > ========================================================================== ==== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/
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