----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
David. Right after I got my Pilot License two years ago I went with some of my German friends to the Grand Canyon. That was in late summer 1999. Here is what I encountered. I've got a 46 85 hp Coupe with a model E-Conversion (which brings my max. gross weight to 1400 # ) I have to tell you I had quiet a few rides I won't forget. I remember me running the engine full throttle while holding a climb attitude around 60 mph and being still barely able to hold the 8000 ft which was the requirement these days in the Grand canyon. I made it over the Mammoth pass after climbing for an hour with 50 ft per minute and loosing all the altitude I have gained in the last ten minutes by a little downdraft. I was fighting the strong headwind ones for an hour when trying to get into the Central Valley her in California, shaken by updrafts and downdrafts. And so on. To be honest the coupe is not much of a climber (maybe with an O-200 but not with my C85). One can fly almost everywhere with it, but it requires wise planning and to follow the common rules for mountain flying. When ever I took off in the early morning in the mountains things looked much different, but after I landed for refueling it changed quiet a bit the perspective . That reminds me of my Flight from a Coupers meeting from Big Bear (over 6000 ft ?). It was Winter and I refueled without thinking about performance. I had a passenger with me and she told to me do something after we made barely out of the Ground Effect over the trees and over the lake now. Well I was at 60 and nothing made the plane climb. I was afraid to bank because I would even loose more altitude doing so and my plan was to fly over the lake in wide circles for one or two hours until I burned enough fuel to make it over the surrounding mountains. (I did not have to, but this was my plan) The Ercoupe is able to handle two people and load but beware. It is so much of a different picture when flying alone! Landing in Gras strips: We have got one (1C9) just right to the South County Airport (q99). Everyone practices his emergency maneuvers there. I landed the coupe a few times there. Easy. I also landed on rough, short strips in the desert - no problem. The problems come when you intend to take off from these locations. Think about it : The Book says to rise the nose of your Airplane as soon as possible to get one wheel off the ground , put the load onto the mains and gain speed in grass that way. Unfortunately if you follow the book you loose steering authority over the plane, thus weather vaning the plane into the wind, and if this is a cross wind you better throttle down immediately, or you run off the runway. I help myself by finding a position in between loosing the steering authority altogether and having my front wheel bumped around. It sure feels not comfortable, and sometimes my takeoff looks like zigzag on a field like this, but it is possible if you gained experience. This is with strong crosswinds only, just to be clear on that. As for the Operating Handbook.: The C-Model came without one as I understand. A C-Model pilot does not have to carry the POH because there was never one assigned by the FAA . (Please correct me Guys if I am wrong on that one) >From the D-Model on there was a Handbook . The book specifies the best climb AND Landing speed as something between 60 and 70 mph ! This for the E-Model. But I am really astounded how reality looks like . My Approaches in my 46 Conversion are best flown at an Airspeed of 65 indicated. If I go faster , I have a hell of a time on the ground , if I go slower , I won't reach the ground at the desired spot. In my other Ercoupe, a 1948 true Model-E things are looking different . I have to fly all maneuvers exactly 10 miles per hour faster. By doing so they feel the same when approaching. That means one Airspeed meter must be wrong. Which one ? Talking about my other Ercoupe (it belongs actually to my brother and is getting it's annual done since almost a year -ha ha) I could fly it yesterday after not having it flown over a year. It is the same configuration as mine, 85 hp Model E. But what a difference in performance! It seems like the other plane has twice as much power when taking off. In Cruise I have to watch the tachometer dial because that engine can be over revved! Everyone I mention it tells me that there is probably a climb prop on the other plane. If a climb prop can do so much of a difference then I can only recommend having one in your situation , David. You need climb performance and you do not care much about how fast you cruise in a 400 miles radius. O.K. I realize I am talking too much again here. Keep flying Coupers and have a good Sunday. Hartmut, San Francisco N3330H, N 94804 David Schultz wrote: > ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- > > Hello, > > I am considering the purchase of a 1946 Ercoupe. (it has the 85 Hp > conversion.) I > live in southwest, Montana and am concerned about flying an Ercoupe in a > high altitude, mountainous region. Should I be concerned? I would use > the > airplane mainly for recreational flights, less than 400 miles, around > the > northwest. Occasionally I would hope to do some cross country flying. > > I would be interested to know of any experience relative to flying an > Ercoupe in country like mine. > > Also, can anyone tell me what is the typical, full fuel, useful load of > Ercoupes? What is a typical climb rate for the airplane if loaded at, or > close to, maximum? I weigh 165 # and if I take a passenger, the plane > will > be close to max gross. What kind of performance can I expect? Typically > the > weather here is rather cool, but we do get hot days in the summer. What > experience has anyone in the group had in flying Ercoupes under hot, > high > altitude conditions such as these? > > Has anyone in the group landed an Ercoupe on grass or dirt strips? How > does > an Ercoupe do in these situations? > > What is the Vx and Vy speeds for an Ercoupe? > > Is there an Ercoupe Pilot's Operating Handbook online? > > Any information would be greatly appreciated. > > --------------- > > --------------------------------- > to unsubscribe send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > --------------------------------- to unsubscribe send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Sid.bAhN69 Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. 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