Hi Amy & Al, I think Wayne is 'the man' for this one !
Don't forget about the historic first AWTAR here in the US too !! There are a couple of good site, including the Ercoupe Owners Club, Ed Burkhead's site, Al's, and others. http://www.Ercoupe.org/ http://edburkhead.com/Ercoupe/index.htm http://www.ercoupeowners.com/swap/swapbook.htm However please also browse the California Ercoupes web site @ http://www.calcoupers.org http://www.calcoupers.org/rsrchistory.htm http://www.calcoupers.org/fun.htm#Stories Some sample links & stories follow below... Here's some interesting Ercoupe related history; On March 12, 1947, Carolyn West and Beatrice Medes flew an Ercoupe to win the first AWTAR - they were the only finishers! In 1948, Mardo Crane, Chairman, trail blazed the "Jacqueline Cochran Cross County Race" to Miami. The LA Chapter has always had a great interest in racing, with many members generally placing in the top ten. http://www.sws99s.org/history/losangeles.html AWTAR = All Woman Transcontinental Air Race http://members.aol.com/creasonwings/awtar.htm JATO Ercoupe & NASA video link courtesy of John Craparo; I was with Col. Joe Kittinger this week at the Smithsonian doing some work we are involved with in ballooning. As you may know, Joe was the pre-Astronaut (Craig Ryan so-named him and others in his book) who did a series of tests in the late 50's into 1960 that lead to him jumping from a balloon gondola from nearly 103,000 feet setting records still in place today. I digress... we were talking about my Ercoupe and I mentioned to this longtime jet pilot that the Ercoupe was used in the first JATO tests at CalTech... he was surprised. I sent him a link tonight to the JPL history site. There I found this film of the flights. While I have seen the takeoff film and still pictures in B&W, I have never seen this film in color, nor have I seen the Porterfield more than a few inches off the ground which was used as a reference. There is also a segment of the JATO propelled Ercoupe in cruise...this I have never seen. For those who have not seen it, nor know the context which this website sets, here is this fascinating link. I am sorry they do not mention Homer Boushey the pilot... http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/jplhistory/videos/ercoupe.php Here is a nice article on the JATO work done in the Ercoupe. Seems that CalTech has recently shown renewed interest in the history here. http://calteches.library.caltech.edu/117/01/JATO.pdf John Craparo Dan Hall 1947 Ercoupe 415CD N3968H ----- Original Message ----- From: Wayne Woollard To: Ercoupers Flyin ; Al Demarzo Cc: amy.took...@itn.co.uk Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 5:08 PM Subject: Re: [ercoupe-flyin] Fw: Help I hold a number of transcontinental, and point to point speed records in an Alon, does that count? Wayne Woollard ----- Original Message ----- From: Al Demarzo To: Ercoupers Flyin Cc: amy.took...@itn.co.uk Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 4:26 PM Subject: [ercoupe-flyin] Fw: Help Guys and gals. Received this today via the swap page. If anyone can help her, I'm sure she would appreciate it. Al DeMarzo Visit the Ercoupe Swap Page Free, Easy and No Membership Required http://www.ercoupeowners.com/swap/swapbook.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Tookman, Amy To: swapmas...@ercoupeowners.com Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 9:26 AM Subject: Help Hi, This is a remarkably strange request - but I wonder if you can help me; I work in development for a TV production company in the UK and I am trying to find out about world records, air races and exciting trips (transatlantic) that could be flown in an Ercoupe. As this website is dedicated to the plane - I am hoping that you may be able to help me! Do you know of any incredible journeys that could be made in an Ercoupe? Do you know the fastest trip any person has made in an Ercoupe? Do you know of any competitions where an Ercoupe can compete? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated Kind Regards Amy AMY TOOKMAN Development Researcher 16 MORTIMER STREET LONDON W1T 3JL UNITED KINGDOM T +44 (0)20 7430 4741 F E amy.took...@itn.co.uk WWW.ITN.CO.UK P Please consider the environment. Do you really need to print this email? Please Note: Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Independent Television News Limited unless specifically stated. This email and any files attached are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please notify postmas...@itn.co.uk Please note that to ensure regulatory compliance and for the protection of our clients and business, we may monitor and read messages sent to and from our systems. Thank You. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.3/1879 - Release Date: 1/6/2009 5:16 PM
