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Tim, Wonderful observations. It made me smile to read your words. In reference to item #4: Try doing your power-off glides at a higher airspeed. Coupes, with their thick Hershey bar wings, glide best in the 70-85 mph range. In that range, their glide ratio isn't that bad. Try it. You'll like it. In reference to item #5: Perhaps the softer feel to the turbulence comes from the lower airspeed. Of those on your list of planes you've flown, only the 152 flies as slowly as a Coupe and I bet you hadn't flown a 152 much lately. And, when we penetrate turbulence, slowing down makes the bumps softer. That's good advice when you penetrate turbulence in your Coupe - high-speed bumps give high transient g-loads. In the last years before his death, Fred Weick tried to make clear to us that it's good to slow down on turbulent days to be nice to our 50 (now almost 60) year old wings. We've never had a Coupe wing fail in flight from fatigue or age, to my knowledge. Let's keep it that way. Overall, you've pegged the essence of Coupes. They ARE more fun to fly! Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] (remove the QQQ) -----Original Message----- From: Tim and Martha Briggs [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 10:38 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Getting to know my coupe ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Ercoupers: I've been flying my "new" 1950 Ercoupe 415G for a few weeks now and have some observations I'd like to share. 1. A coupe is more fun to fly. I've flown a lot of club planes and FBO rentals - Cessna 152, 172, Piper Cherokees, Grumman Tigers, Beech Sports, a Tobago and even a T-34B. Of all those planes, none have been just plain fun like this Ercoupe. Just flying the pattern or cruising the Socal coastline is a joy. I think it is the visibility and low workload that make it so much fun. Flying with a window down is the best and gives a unique feeling when you bank left and see nothing between you and the ground. 2. The coupe is unique and quirky - in a good way. Hand brake, pull starter, steer with the yoke. My hands have learned where to go during start. Ailerons go way up but barely down. A critical component is not unlike a wine cork. Climbing in without bumping knees is an acquired talent. I "wave" to planes taxiing behind me with my rudders (erco rudder kit) Controllers don't know what I am when I call. Everyone has a puzzled look when I taxi by. At the gas pump, people come out to look and ask questions. The "seasoned citizens" like it and want to check it out - it seems to bring back memories of a different time for them. 3. The coupe is simple. My first few flights, I thought I was forgeting to do something. No fuel tanks to switch, no prop to manage. My checklists are short and sweet - it is hard to screw something up. Preflight is pretty short. 4. The coupe flys great but doesn't glide. Power off = sink. Good for a short approach if you come in with power before touchdown. 5. A fabric wing seems to give a smoother ride. Maybe I'm imagining it, but a fabric wing seems to give a "softer" ride than all-metal. As the fabric flexes, I think it dampens chop and turbulence a bit. 6. My coupe is proving to be a good friend. I have a smile on my face every time we're together. Tim ======================================================================== ====== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/ ========================================================================== ==== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/
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