----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
David, I have owned an Ercoupe for three years. Click on www.ercoupe.com and click on planes, scroll down to N93555. That is my plane that I am considering selling. I have not done any flying in the mountains, nor do I plan to do so with an Ercoupe. On a hot day in a high elevation situation, you just won't have enough power to get off the ground. Once you are in the air, you may be able to manage high density altitude. My 85 hp plane has an 1400# gross weight, 900# empty. So with 24 gallons of fuel at 6#/gallon, that leaves me with 356# for me and a passenger and/or other payload. On a normal summer day in Minnesota, I don't have any problem fully loaded on a hard-surface runway. Grass will take longer. Hot and humid will hamper your performance significantly. Last year, I vacationed in Leadville, Colorado. The elevation there is 10,000ft. I came to realize that an Ercoupe would not be appropriate for that environment. That is much higher than most Ercoupe pilots fly their planes. I would say that many coupers fly at around 3,500msl. Most like to be closer to the ground to enjoy the scenery. This past February, I ascended to 12,100ft. msl one Sunday afternoon. It took at least 25 minutes to reach that altitude. I was alone and initially, I was ascending at rate in excess of 500ft/min. As I approached 10,000 ft. I was ascending at a rate of about 300ft/min. I'm sure some Ercoupe pilots fly around mountainous regions, but I'll bet most fly through the passes and stay lower. You will probably get some feedback from some of those pilots. Personally, on planes that gross out at 1400# to 1800# or so, I would want a plane with at least 150 hp and had flaps for enhancement of performance. An Ercoupe doesn't have flaps. You might even consider a tail-dragger, which may give you more options. If you wanted a higher performance plane with a turbo, mountainous terrain would be less of a challenge. The bottom line is that I wouldn't recommend purchasing an Ercoupe for what you have in mind. If you still would like to purchase one, mine probably will be for sale. I have truly enjoyed my "Spirit of 46" and is a delight to fly. It is a GREAT aircraft for most scenarios, but for your intentions, probably not. I, too, would like to spend time flying around the mountainous regions of the Northwest, but I think that I will decline to fly an Ercoupe. The message above is just my opinion, for what it is worth. I would appreciate hearing from you if someone tells you that they are appropriate aircraft for aggressive mountain flying. Good luck in your search for the right plane. Dallas Larson Lakeville, MN N93555 ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Schultz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Coupers Tech" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 12:23 PM Subject: [COUPERS-TECH] Considering Buying an Ercoupe > ----[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] > > ==^================================================================ 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. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01 ==^================================================================
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