Dave: When buying a 'coupe, it is very important to ask the same questions as when purchasing anything: What will I do with my purchase? What is its mission? What can I afford to spend for the purchase? How will I maintain it and what will that cost?
If you like the "kitchy" appearance, like antiques, are going to do most of your own maintenance, don't mind a very low performance, slow airplane, and don't want to spend much, the 'coupe is for you. Buy whichever model you can afford and be prepared to put in a lot of work to bring it up to a condition you feel comfortable with. The ALON and MOONEY are the first of the series to have a panel configuration which either will or can be equipped with the same instruments and radios as contemporary aircraft. These planes also have the advantage of being manufactured in the mid to late sixties, so they are not too old. Structurally, they differ little from early coupes. There are numerous other details to consider once you have defined your pupose in owning a 'coupe. Engines and props are another consideration: 'Coupes are underpowered. If you actually want to take a friend along or if you weigh 200lbs, you need either a C-90 or O-200 engine to safely get in the air on a hot summer day. The C-90 runs at lower RPMs and turns in the fastest airspeed, but the O-200 will probably give you marginally better climb. In a fixed-pitch prop aircraft like this, you have to make a decision: Do want climb or speed? Will you be operating at gross out of Columbia, CA at noontime during the summer? Don't buy a 'coupe if you want to get somewhere in a hurry or operate out of short strips at high altitude (unless you are a thrill-seeker). I'm real happy with my ALON. I sold a SKYLANE that I wasn't using much and rarely flew with passengers. I took the money and invested it, then bought the least expensive "real" airplane I could find, an early model ALON. Even though this plane had a brand new engine and modern avionics, numerous "deferred maintenance" items which appeared as my I/A and I inspected it cost several thousand $$$. I find the ALON fun to fly and stone-simple to understand and manintain. It keeps me flying on a retirement budget. I solved the prop problem because the plane came with a spare - the cruise prop flies in the winter, the climb prop in the summer. David N6359V DKM7546 wrote: > I am researching the potential purchase of an Ercoupe. Would it be better or > less expensive to buy a coupe that has a high time or run out engine and have > it overhauled myself or should I just pay premium price for a "cherry" plane? > > Anything better about the Forneys or Alons? What else should I be on the look > out for? > > Thanks, > Dave > Claremont, Cal.
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