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There is one more way to register the Ercoupes under the new light-sport aircraft category: work out a new Type certificate for Ercoupes. Remember the increase of the gross weight with the 415-D was mainly an attempt to fit into the new (to that day) NORMAL category. So why not in order to register under a new category work on a new type certificate.... This Certificate would acommodate the following: 1. Reduce permissable Gross Weight to 1226 pounds. That will in return 2. bring down the stall speed (power off ) to aprox. 45MPH (39kts) 3. If maximum operating speed means Vne then this has can be accomplished with a new stop for the elevator down movement. Down from 144 MPH (125kts) to 133 MPH (115kts) . If this speed just means max Cruising speed then I would not know many Ercoupes being capable to cruise that fast anyway. So how would you compensate the reduced weight limit (34 pounds less )? 1. put a Continental A-65 in (saves 10 to 20 pounds) - no worries you won't fly much slower 2. remove all Gyros and other non Day-VFR instruments (remeber Port Pilot - Day VFR only - saves 10 to 20 pounds) and reduces drag if a ventury was used 3. Don't fill up the tanks to the neck ( I remember when flying with my instructor in tthe Tomahawk we regularily flew the first hour illegal overweight) OR 4. Fly alone, which most of us do anyway.
