The proper name is the Ercoupe Owners Club National Convention, often called The Nationals. I have attended the 1986 Nationals in Cable, Wisconsin, 1987 at Talequah, Oklahoma, 1988 at Ames, Iowa, missed 1989 at Minden, Nevada, attended 1990 at Bowling Green, Ohio, 1991 at Lockhaven, Pennsylvania, 1992 at Newton, Kansas, hosted 1993 at Wausau, Wisconsin, attended 1994 at Prescott, Arizona, 1995 at Kalispell, Montana, missed 1996 at Nag's Head and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, missed 1997 at Salinas, California, and attended 1998 at Jackson, Illinois. The agenda usually includes bus trips to local points of interest, seminars about various aviation topics such as hypoxia, air traffic control, Flight Service, aviation weather, Ercoupe maintenance and history of the Ercoupe to mention a few. Other agenda items usually include a fly-out to a somewhat nearby airport for Saturday morning breakfast with possibly a poker run and/or a spot landing contest. Some conventions included bomb drop contests and balloon busting contests, but they were a while ago. The highlight of the convention is always the Saturday night Banquet. Awards are presented for Most Original Ercoupe, Best Ercoupe, Best Forney, Best Alon, Best Mooney M-10, oldest pilot, youngest pilot, and the Fred E. Weick Outstanding Member award. The convention is open to anyone interested in Ercoupes, not just members of the E.O.C. Dorm rooms in a local college are usually reserved for attendees who want to stay there, (inexpensivly) and motel rooms are also reserved in several motels for those who like things a little more plush. Quite a few attendees bring their spouses, but some do not. The number of Coupes flown in has varied from about 40 to around 100, depending on the weather and the location of the convention. I have enjoyed being at every one emmensly, and recommend it to everyone. It's great being with so many fellow Coupers, and seeing them again and again each year. Hope to see you there.
Syd Cohen NC94196
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