Hey ya'll....I'm considering responding to the comments on Paul Berge blog, and Brent's comments in particular. IF you've read Brent's comments and Jason's rebuttal on the blog, I'd appreciate your thoughts on this draft reply below.
Here's the link to the Blog site; http://bergeflyingtheater.blogspot.com/ Here's the link to the comments (read Bent & Jason's comments - I'm mainly replying to those); https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=9129460132495073333&postID=2168211543851538132 Dan Hall N3968H &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Jason, thank you for your support and comments. I agree strongly with your posts regarding the Ercoupe. Contrary to Brent's insinuations, my letter not claim that the Ercoupe was best or that it should have won; and that was not the reason I wrote the letter. However Jason's comments hit the nail on the head. Ercoupe owner are collectively extremely tired of 60+ years of often snide & belittling comments about the Ercoupe, often based on ignorance (and / or pride & arrogance). With that thought firmly in mind, I'd like to re-fresh Bent's memory with the following "objective" quotes taken directly from Mr. Berge's article; "Amazingly it will straighten itself out....the way a dead cow straightens out when dropped off a moving truck." "The Ercoupe, top, is an acquired taste savored by owners who can do without rudder pedals. Crosswind landings are faith-based flying." "The flight experience is best described as quirky, especially in cross winds, it has no rudder pedals." "If you have lazy feet, the 75 HP Ercoupe 415C may be for you..." "These legacy LSA's are not terribly comfortable, and if you can't fly coordinated and learn to use your feet they'll be neither pleasant nor kind, especially on the runway." (Ercoupes are pleasant & kind) "(....doing 95 MPH)" (try 100-108) "One broke up in flight due to center section corrosion." (Nope) "Ercoupe 415C is LSA eligible..." (and the 415CD??) "We can't say we're crazy about this plane...." (Ah, honesty!) "Last pick is the Ercoupe. They aren't cheap and, in our view, lack the charm of the tail draggers which except for the cub, are all bargain for beginner or lingering pilots." Here Mr. Berge comes out and most clearly his own obvious personal subjective bias FOR tail draggers and their "charm", and against the tricycle gear Ercoupe. Let's see; 4 rag & tube tail-draggers, one all metal tricycle gear model, and the only tricycle gear model comes in dead last in the comparison with the commentary noted above. Brent, do you honestly NOT see a pattern here??? Paul Berge clearly prefers rag & tube tail draggers, and I don't begrudge him that - all of the planes tested are fun little birds to fly. However I and MANY Ercoupe owners certainly DO take GREAT exception to the comments he chose to use to describe the Ercoupe in the Aviation Consumer. Those comments carry a strong personal bias and have no place in a national publication like AC. WHERE were the genuinely objective comments about the Ercoupes obvious advantages, such as; * Tri-cycle gear for stable landing & ground handling. * Superior cross wind landing capabilities. * Effective / good brakes * Stall resistant and spin proof. * Responsive full span ailerons. * Electrical system. * Excellent visibility. This is a great safety feature for avoiding mid-air collisions! * Windows down "open cockpit" flying experience! * Higher speed cruise than other LSAs with the same engine * Mostly metal or all metal construction. * Very simple systems: no fuel tank switching and no flaps. Do you still wonder why I and may other Ercoupe owners lost our collective sense of humor after (re) reading the quotes from the article??? While I have tail wheel experience and my next airplane may be an RV-4, for the record; I take far dimmer view of (tail wheel) snobs than Mr. Berge takes of Ercoupes. If & when the time comes for my next airplane I'm quite sure that I'll miss my 60 year old classic Ercoupe, and frankly would never give up the Coupe if I could afford to keep two planes. I just hope I don't regret the day the keys to my lovely classic Coupe are handed over to it's next 'care taker' (as virtually all former Ercoupe owners have lamented to me over the years). The Ercoupe is a unique and special gem of a classic flying machine. The Ercoupe deserves just as much respect as the rag & tube tail draggers (more IMHO), and that sir, is the point !!!!! Dan Hall Ercoupe 415CD N3968H ----- Original Message ----- From: AJ DeMarzo To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 6:36 AM Subject: Re: [ercoupe-flyin] Ercoupe Wars, news from the front !! Guys and gals; I've been privy to some email traffic Brent sent out about this subject. Seems I was wrong and Brent is calling the troops to defend Berge (whomever he is). I would suggest that copies of all of the fine rebuttals to the article in Aviation consumer should be sent to the blog page, too. Maybe we will be lucky enough to get an official "Buzz Off" from the intelligencia of the EOC. Al DeMarzo Visit the Ercoupe Swap Page Free, Easy and No Membership Required http://www.ercoupeowners.com/swap/swapbook.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 7:34 PM Subject: [ercoupe-flyin] Ercoupe Wars, news from the front !! Good Afternoon, and isn't it a lovely afternoon! Well never let it be said that our own Paul Berge was afraid of burning his bridges. Or in this case actually throwing dynamite on them !! Check out the following message I received from our Supreme Commander at the front, then click on the link for the latest; You asked for it; Coupe War Phase 2 now on Hangar Flying Theater: http://bergeflyingtheater.blogspot.com/ That's what I like about Paul. I guess we both feel that we have never had to cross that river in the same place twice while traveling down the road of life, so why worry about those bridges behind you !! Meanwhile another front has opened up in defense of the "twin tailed plumber killers". And I will admit this one surprised me. One of the individuals I thought would enjoy receiving the good natured banter we have been sending to one another has taken offense with Paul's sardonic witicisms in the article as published in Aviation Consumer. In relation to what Paul penned in that article he writes; "My opinion of ercoupes is right there with Paul's, but it appears that his great literary talents maybe steering people toward the VAA and not the AAA....." Of course this gentleman is certainly welcome to his opinion. To bad he offered no proof with his charges, nor did he choose to share it with the recipients of this list or with Paul himself. Instead he chose to send it to me, two AAA National Directors (one who is on this list) and a mutual friend. Makes one wonder what his true motivation in this matter is ?? Therefore I will not add credence to his standing in this matter by divulging his name. If he wants he can write me and opt out of any further e-mails this fun loving group will continue to exchange on any number of subjects. Or not . And if this whole situation is causing some of you to have a deja vu moment well those feelings are on the mark. Anyway I hope "Coupe War Phase 2" makes you laugh like it did me. Remember, this old airplane thing is suppose to be "FUN"!! Brent ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. 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