Leslie, Yes, I think you are right ---in that often "Experienced pilots" have difficulty in landing the coupe....Crazy, Huh ? Well, it's the learned responses that have to be overcome and replaced with Coupe experience ---- or to the new pilot who learns the coupe experience first --it's no problem..
I took a young man flying in my coupe once... he is CFI, multi, instrument, etc, etc., . I made a few landings in a crab to show him just how neat a coupe was, etc..... always pointing out one should keep the airplane in a "three-point" position, landing on the mains; letting the nose swing into the direction of movement, before allowing the nose wheel to contact the ground etc.... Well, we approached nicely, flared, and just before touchdown he dumped the nose !!!!!. I caught it quickly, but not before a hard landing and big bounce..... Now, I thought...what the hell????? then I realized that he thinks of "three point position" as a nose wheel airplane taxing; I think of "Three point position , as a tail dragger doing a full stall landing..... Luckly we didn't hurt anything except my pride.... So, be careful in showing other Experienced Pilots how to fly an Ercoupe. Showing new folks, who haven't aquired automatic responses is a lot easier and safer....I expect. I guess it really is true, it is not the airplane, but the "Loose Nut" in the cockpit.... Regards, Harry Francis 93530 Blacksburg, Va.
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