Jerry Eichenberger wrote: > > Ron - I'm new to coupes, having bought ours last Jan., but have been flying since 1964. Dave's Ercoupe page is nice, but is not affiliated with EOC, to my knowledge. > I would like to see a page like the Cessna 120/140 , or Short Wing Piper folks have. I particularly like the C-120/140 page, especially their sections for STCs, 337s, and want ads. > I spent a lot of time last fall deciding whether to buy a coupe, C-140, or a short wing Piper. Both of those pages were very helpful is seeing what was out there, prices, etc. > I am computer ignorant, basically able to e-mail and write in word processor applications. If you go forward, you'll have my envy. > While I've addressed this to the whole mailing list, I've got a couple of questions for the group. > My only disappointment with our coupe falls into two areas. First is the horrible gliding performance at idle power. It seems that a forced landing in a coupe is far more critical than other airplanes, and this relates to the second problem of not being able to control glide angle, except with airspeed changes. With no flaps and the inability to slip, you've got a handful in a true forced landing situation. > Part of my concern probably comes from being both an airplane and glider pilot. In gliders, with good speed brakes, spoilers, and the ability to slip, you can do a spot landing in a glider to a point with just a few feet of the target after minimal training. > Anyone have any ideas, secrets, etc. for the coupe? > Jerry Eichenberger > Columbus, Ohio > N2906H
I once did glide testing at 5 mph increments and using a stop watch to measure a 2000 foot descent. (I started each descent a thousand feet higher than the starting point to ensure that I had a stabilized glide at each speed.) Doing this, I found the best glide ratio for that plane. I was surprised to find that the best glide ratio was about 20-39 mph higher than the minimum flying speed. I don't want to publish my results since the airspeed indicator I had at that time was inaccurate so the results aren't generalizable by mph. They are useful to me and I will duplicate them with my new airspeed indiator, altimeter and gps when I get a chance. For now, try doing glide tests yourself in your own plane. Untill you can do that, I'd suggest you get the best glide ratio in the 75-80 mph range and best penetration against a headwind as high as 90 mph. At those numbers, the ratio isn't so bad. At my 65-70 mph approach speed, the sink rate is as high as you and David describe. -- Ed Burkhead East Peoria, Ill. N3802H, 415-D
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