David, The Ercoupe, 2 control models, when properly rigged will taxi, take off and land in a straight line, with varying power application. The airplane is fully co-ordinated at all times, and because of the limited up elevator travel, will not stall. The differential acting aelrions help prevent yaw, and the inboard stall fairings at the junction of the wing to fuselage, assures that the wing will continue to fly, and the aelrions be effective at all speeds. The wings are straight, not twisted (washed out)as most later airplanes are, to control low speed flight. A firly high dihedreal angle also makes the Ercoupe stable.
The engine is mounted at a down angle of 3.5 degrees, and right of center 5 degrees. This thrust control plus mounting the differential acting rudders out of the slip stream is very effective in counteracting "P " factor. Fred Weick ( Ercoupe Designer) once stated that he learned to do this when building free flight model airplanes ! - so they would fly straight. It sure works in a PROPERLY RIGGED Ercoupe. However , we often see improperly rigged Coupes, especially the nose wheel rigged off to one side, acting like a rudder, or an uncompleted service bulletin on the pivot bearing for the rudder controls. This locks up the rudders in a static position, causing the airplane to fly in a crab, etc., and not co-oridanated. The properly rigged coupe will fly under almost all conditions with the Ball in the center - generally better than most of us can do. Ha. Regards, Harry Francis N-93530 Blacksburg, Va.
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