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Hi Larry, Heh heh...I know where you're coming from! I recognize that Ed Burkhead and I are a minority in believing if you =20= structure the variables that the coupe is as good a cross-country =20 airplane for a two-place as has been made, absent more modern =20 homebuilts. As an example, I believe my one gallon of unusable fuel to =20= be twice that actually likely (- 3 lbs.!). We look for the ways coupes CAN so operate. Of COURSE one must also =20 envision the ways that they are marginal and adequately compensate. We =20= all have (or should have) a "comfort zone" for our abilities and those =20= of the aircraftin in which we are comfortable. I also must admit I've yet to see a 75hp or 85 hp coupe properly timed =20= and properly leaned on a cross-country burn 5.5 gph. When you figure =20= that "heavy" coupes and "light" coupes weigh the same at gross, is that =20= in the range of "normal" where you live? When I was a student pilot, just prior to my first (long) cross-country =20= I had my A&P check my timing. He re-set it WRONG! Because I "knew" =20 what my burn should be I was not as attentive to the nose tank wire as =20= I should have been. My receipt was for 24 gallons of gas at Blythe. =20 CA! That lesson will never be forgotton. The pilot that is methodical, meticulous and precise in learning and =20 operating a given aircraft can safely and routinely do things that =20 would entail great danger for others. Perhaps the best example would =20= be Bob Hoover's single-engine aerobatics in a "blueprinted" Aero =20 Commander landing "dead stick" with precision again and again. Regards, WRB -- =20 On Oct 15, 2004, at 9:34 AM, MAGIC VAC wrote: > OK, you Devil you, > =A0 > =A0=A0=A0=A0First, you forgot to add 50 years of settled dust/dirt +25 > = lbs.=A0 =20 > And, my 85 hp Coupe always burned around 5.5 gal/hr.=A0 +25 lbs.=A0 = Plus, =20 > everyone wants that extra degree of safety on fuel, +25 lbs.=A0 Plus, > =20= > what good is a plane if you can only fly every time they mow the =20 > grass?=A0 + 1.5" grass.=A0 I still don't think it's a 1600 ft grass = runway =20 > summertime airplane. > =A0 > Larry > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: William R. Bayne > To: COUPERS-FLYIN > Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004 9:49 PM > Subject: Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Should I be interested in buying an =20 > Ercoupe, Forney, Alon, etc. > > > OK, I'll play "devil's advocate... > > The pessimist sees the glass as half empty > The optimist sees the glass as half full > Fred Weick sees the glass twice the size it needs to be. > > A 925 lb. coupe probably has metal wings, a lot of old instruments and > = =20 > radios, multiple coats of paint and plush upholstery. Forneys, Alons > =20= > and Cadets weigh this much, but they have 90hp. > > A 415-D came out of the factory weighing about 825 lbs. It probably > =20= > has a metal prop today (+8 lbs) but a modern 25 amp battery (-4 lbs) > =20= > and removal of the aileron counterweights (3.5 lbs) cancel this out > =20= > (weightwise, NOT C.G.!). > > At 4.2 gpm fuel consumption and 100 mph, 250 miles is 4.2 x 2.5 =3D = 10.5 =20 > gal. Add 2.1 gal. for a 30 minute (50 mile) reserve and you have 12.6 > =20= > gal. @ 6 lbs./gal, or 75.6 lbs. for fuel. Add a gallon for unusable > =20= > fuel and you have: A 825 lb coupe, with 81.6 lbs. fuel, 320 lbs. =20 > passengers and 40 lbs. stuff adds up to the approximate max. gross of > =20= > a 415-C or CD, given the variables. > > Add to the mix some common sense. If you're going on a long trip, plan > = =20 > to depart early in the morning (then density altitude performance at > =20= > maximum gross on a hot summer day isn't as important). When you're =20 > just flying around locally on a summer afternoon, don't carry baggage > =20= > and don't fill the tanks. > > If the strip is mowed weekly, try to plan a cross-country "departure > =20= > day" within 3 days of mowing so you're dealing with 3-4" grass. I have > = =20 > departed Albuquerque at 11am at full gross and 6000' elevation =20 > (marginal with 85hp) in mid-summer. You don't have to clear ALL the > =20= > mountains around, just have acceptable clearance on the upwind side of > = =20 > those on your chosen route, and approach higher terrain at a 45=BA = angle =20 > so that you only have to turn 90=BA to turn away should you encounter = a =20 > serious downdraft. > > If you really want extra climb performance, get a rag wing coupe with > =20= > a C-90 or 0-200. Ed's climb prop sounds worthwhile, and he still got > =20= > better than 100 mph+ cruise performance. > > Regards, > > William R. Bayne > <____|-(o)-|____> > Copyright 2004 > ========================================================================== ==== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/
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