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Larry,

 

I’d be inclined to recommend you try to change to fabric covered wings before removing the starter, generator and battery.

 

You can change to a lighter battery and a lighter starter.  I don’t know if the alternator conversion would save weight or not.

 

Changing to fabric wings usually saves 38 – 40 lb.  We have heard of metalized wings that had less differential than that.

 

I’ve propped several planes using careful technique.  I’d say the Coupe was the hardest because the prop is so low to the ground.  You are trying to fling the prop at high speed while bent over.  I found a C-172 and Piper Colt (2-place Tri-Pacer) to be much easier because they’re higher from the ground.  Almost all tail draggers would have props higher from the ground than a Coupe.

 

I sure wouldn’t want to have to hand-prop a Coupe on a regular basis.

 

Also, does anyone know the average weight saving from stripping the paint from the fuselage and polishing the plane?

 

Please let us know what you decide and how much weight you save.

 

Ed Burkhead

http://edburkhead.com

ed -at- edburkhead???.com          (change -at- to @ and remove "???")

 

 

 

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