I like most of Jerry's comments but I want to tell of my experience that differs from his on one point:
Jerry wrote: > If you insist on doing it yourself, which you should not, study > the charts long and hard, and pick a route that avoids terrain > above 6,000. Go hundreds of miles out of your way if you > have to. Trying to climb to even 8,000 really taxes the > capability of an Ercoupe. With my C-85 powered Coupe, flying that trip at around 1320 lb., I could get to 12,500' every single time I wanted except one. That one was my single evening flight with still moderate thermal turbulence and high density altitude. Between the thermals and density altitude, I topped out at an absolute maximum of 11,500' at a density altitude of 14,500'. That was using my 7146 prop. I flew quite comfortably 2,000 plus feet over the peaks of the mountain ranges, flying at 12,500'. I flew over Salt Lake International at 12,499' surprising the controller and amusing the airliners who were in their own pattern well below me. I was well out of the way of the airliner traffic pattern and he only talked to me about three times to be sure I was still where I had said I would be. Now days, you need to have a transponder over 10,000' - something I didn't need back then. But, even with a lowly C-85, flying solo, with my 7146 extreme climb prop, I enjoyed flying well up over those mountain ranges. (A C-85 with the O-200 crankshaft STC or a true O-200 engine would be even better than my C-85 and extreme climb prop.) If you don't have the climb prop then everything Jerry said is a very important warning to you. Ed
