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All .
Here my list:
1. Interior
What I think a Coupe should have is a nice upholstery.Either custom seats
that are comfortable even after 3 hours of a bumpy ride or a nice bench
seat, maybe slightly modified to fit me I am 6.1 tall. I modified the
backrest of my bench seat to give me the ability to withstand a 3 hour ride.
2.Engine
Then the coupe needs a good healthy engine, be it 75 or 85 hp. I prefer a
90hp installation, because all three can still use different kind of props.
The 0-200 is limited to a climb prop and is slightly less efficient in
cruise - means you burn more gas for the same effect as in a C75/85/90.
3. Instruments & Avionics
Basic instrumentation will do. On a basic instrument panel.
When I say basic instrumentation, I'll mean it. Except a T&B maybe and I
learned to value a good handheld GPS.
Good radio(s) are important and a transponder. A good means of instrument
illumination for night flying if one does fly at night.
4. A good working trim handle and power handle is important. My Coupe was
factory converted to the center quadrant controls and I like them. Others
prefer vernier controls.
Whatever your preferences are.
5. What I don't need
No EGT or CHT is needed for the small carbureted Continental. Monitoring Oil
temperature will suffice.
Landing light? Not needed - nice to have though. In-wing landing light? Oh
boy - not needed.
Rag wings - metal wings ? 20 pounds difference don't make me jump for the
rag wings. If you keep the metallized wings not painted then you might end
up with an even less difference in weight. Remember the rag wing must be
painted and must be maintained and better is stored in a hangar. Every 10-20
years the rag needs replacement. Costly over time.
Wheel pants - not needed. Bubble windshield - don't like the looks of it.
Enlarged rear windows are in my eyes such a devaluation of the looks of the
Ercoupe that I would refrain from an otherwise good Coupe because of it. The
sheet metal in the rear window area is no straight sheet, complicated to
manufacture and costs a few thousand to be replaced.
Double fork nose wheel - not needed, it gives you cheaper tires though.
Strobe(s) - not needed. Reason why? At daylight only certain directional
strobes are visible from a few miles. Strobes are good for night flying in a
congested area. Not many of us are doing that.
Shoulder harness - not needed. The belts in an airplane are there for one
reason: to keep you in the seat in turbulences. That's true in an airliner
as well in a Coupe. For that purpose the normal seat belts are good enough.
Shoulder harnesses don't give you more in turbulences, unless you are having
them so tight on that you can't move from your backrest. Shoulder harnesses
are good for flying aerobatics. And for that purpose you are strapping
yourself into the seat so your body can't move.It is important to notice,
the harness is needed because of the extreme G-forces when flying
aerobatics.
If you are flying your coupe in a way that you need a shoulder harness, then
you are a candidate for the ripped apart center spar. No harness will help
you then.
So why else would you want to have a shoulder harness? For a head on
collision like in cars? Unlike cars that are already on the ground, we will
have to come there. Hardly to survive - with or without a harness.
A rough landing that results in an uncontrolled runout of the plane?
Admitted, a shoulder harness is helpful for that kind of event like in a
formula one race. The difference here is that the formula one racer has his
upper body strapped in that harness that he can not move at all in his seat.
Plus he is surrounded by a cage from steel. In case of a flipping, he can
even survive fire and explosions because of the helmet and the clothing he
is wearing. The coupe does not have a cage at all, the pilot is not wearing
a helmet. A head on collision on the ground will most likely bend the coupe
like a harmonica and with it are your attachment points bending. Again your
harness is no guarantee of survival.
So why do we have 3 point belts in our cars then ? Plus air bags etc?
Because the likelihood to get into an accident in a car is much higher than
in a plane.
And these accidents are usually collisions either frontal or side that need
a 3 point belt and air bags to keep your upper body and head out of the
danger. All cases that are not so true for an airplane.
Oh well , that was way too much ranting against the harnesses.
Folks. What ever makes you happy. Keep installing the harnesses for gods
sake. If it makes you feel better - why not? You might even have the chance
out of a million to experience a mishap with your coupe where having the
harness is a good thing.
That's it for today.
Hartmut
N3330H
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Hynes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 1:21 AM
Subject: [COUPERS-TECH] List of preferred equipment
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Has anyone ever made a list of all the items that are preferred items that
would be wanted already installed on an Ercoupe at time of purchase. It
would be valuable to a person looking for a good Aircraft.
If such a list has already been prepared somewhere, I would appreciate
seeing it. We all know how a nice looking aircraft's paint job can make or
break a deal, but a proper list of items rearranged to suit the buyer would
be most helpful.
Ron Hynes
ps the current thread regarding Trim cables etc has been very helpful.
Now printed up and filed away.
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