Smart cars and Ercoupes.

[a2jack]

Like the Smart car the Ercoupe was a controversial design that removed the rudder peddle control, as the Smart did away with the clutch control.

Just like with Smart a howl, went up that full control was being taken away from the pilot!

The airplane was different in other ways as well. One drove the Ercoupe much like a car when on the ground, steered by turning the wheel, and stopped with a single brake peddle. The ship came with a 65 hp engine and at overhaul time most were raised to 75Hp. A really clean Coupe would cruise at around 102 mph.

I have flown Ercoupes, and owned one for a time. My wife also flew the airplane and loved it.

One of our list members owns and flies a Coupe. I hope he joins in here and we'll talk old airplane awhile.

A2Jack

[Belleveu1]

While I have always admired the Ercoupe for its simplicity of control, I believe that real men fly taildraggers. We fly a 1954 C170 that Dad bought in 1957.

[a2jack]

Ha-Ha. Wife flew all of our airplanes including the 108-3 Stinson. We've owned 7 airplanes and only one was a trike , a 150 we bought to get her Lic in. But we all know deep in our hearts, REAL men PROP their airplanes.

Fun aside, great to have you join us. The old 170 was for many years the work horse of Alaska bush flying. One of the finest airplanes ever built!

A2Jack.

[vanslam]

Ercoupes are great planes to fly and own. Or any plane made during that golden age of aviation back in the mid forties. The best Ercoupes to fly are the ones without rudder pedals. There were over 5,000 of these planes made in during their run starting in the mid 40's till the 70's by different manufactures.

Although most were made in 1946. They represented a time in flying when low and slow was the norm, airspace was less regulated and landings were not just at limited to airports.

Owning a plane like the Ercoupe is more than just owning a machine its a chance to own a part of aviation history. Having over 300 hours in coupes I just love flying mine with the windows down on a summer day. Best is taking some kid up for his first flight or a seasoned pilot who does understand how you can fly and land without rudders pedals. All have big smiles and want to own one after their flights.

My Coupe get crowds, two thumbs up, and big smiles at every airport I fly to. Seems like everyone has an Ercoupe story and I get a kick out of hearing everyone of them.

Ercoupes were a well thought out solution of an airplane for every person. So if you could drive a car you could fly, or should I say drive an Ercoupe.

When you think about maybe you could consider the Smart Car the modern day automotive Coupe. Now only time can tell if the Smart Car will have the dedicated following of the Coupe but I am willing to find out.

[jwight]

Seems like quite a few aviation folks (fliers, owners and enthusiasts) on the forum. Any interest in having a dedicated sub forum under Off Topic? BTW, I just spent the morning at the AF Museum here (actually called the National Museum of the United States Air Force now) - an amazing place and well worth a visit if you're in SW Ohio.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

[vanslam]

An Aviation location would be cool but you would have to check with the powers that be here.

A couple of years back I was trying to fly my Coupe from NJ to CA. Due to weather I got stuck in Liberal Kansas. I found that there is a huge aviation museum. I spent 4 hours just walking around. Oh yeah they have a Coupe (Model E) in the collection.

[Dave777]

My first logged time is in an Ercoupe, sitting on a boat cushion so I could see out.

[a2jack]

Jwight: It looks like quite a few of our members are air nuts. I think there are a lot more here who just haven't found this thread yet.

I love the AF museum, and like you, I get there as often as I can. The Ford museum, up here, also has lots of airplanes (and cars and trains and engines and ). Worth a trip.

Vanslam: jwight IS one of the powers to be. Back to coupes. a couple of years back I walked into a local hanger and talked to some guys who were restoring a FOUR place Coupe. The ship looked like a small, NA Navion with a AirCoupe Tail. Vary, nice looking airplane. Top that, a bar down the street had an Ercoupe hanging from the ceiling for years. Been about 5 years since I've been in there, but I'll take another look this week.

Dave777 Tell us more. Love talking Micro cars and Airplanes.

A2Jack.

[smorris]

Another Ercoupe fan here. I've ridden in two of them many years ago, as well as a few Cessna and a Beech Bonanza.

Dad had a '47 Taylorcraft when I was growing up, and he landed it in the field behind our house, keeping it in the backyard during the winter.

Middle brother currently has a 46 Champ and a '47 Stinson 108. He had a '34 (?) Ryan in hundreds of pieces that he finally sold. Both of my daughters have flown the Champ and thoroughly enjoyed it. They have their certificate from EAA from my brother. I never learned, as I was always happy to fly in one of their planes.

And speaking of Beechcraft, I bet I'm not alone amongst y'all in lusting after Sky's niece Penny all those years ago... ;)

[jwight]

I've passed the request for an Aviation sub forum to SMART; hopefully it will be OK'd.