Carl, Item 1: It's not a stupid question, it's a great question.
Item 2: I don't think we'll have any "you're a dummy" responses. This is a group of almost entirely gentlemen and ladies who behave in a constructive, civilized manner. If push were to ever come to shove, we have moderators to enforce this. Ask whatever questions you need to. We've got a bunch of people who LIKE helping others. Please, be welcome, here. An Ercoupe with a C-75 engine should fly quite fine with 1260 lb. gross weight or even 1320 lb. (See the STC at http://skyportservices.net/ Skyport Services.) Per the Ercoupe 415-C's Aircraft Specification A-718, a C-75 engine should have a static rpm on the ground that depends on the propeller. Please check the listing in A-718 in the Propellers and Propeller Accessories section. As an example, for a McCauley 1A90 or 1B90, it should be no greater than 2100 rpm and no less than 1950 rpm. Redline for the C-75 engine is only 2275 rpm. When your airspeed gets higher than zero, your rpm will creep to higher numbers than you get for static rpm. At cruise, you may have to pull the power back a bit to stay under 2275. If the trim were set to high speed, without you pulling back on the yoke, it would have willingly rolled along the ground at any speed. If you'd pulled back on the yoke, you should have felt the plane's willingness to lift and fly at 69 mph or anything over 55 mph. Like you, I'm concerned if it got to 69 mph and wouldn't go any faster. (Did you have correct inflation in your tires?) I'd expect you could get a much higher ground speed. I've never actually tried rolling superfast on the ground during a takeoff roll. I always lifted off between 50 and 65, often speeding up in ground effect to my chosen climb speed before leaving ground effect. You might want to check your tachometer. If your airport A&P doesn't have a digital tach checker, they are available at hobby shops that service model aircraft for $30-$40. You don't yet know if your airspeed indicator is correct. Once you get to flying, you can check that out. I bet you get more answers and suggestions. Keep watching the responses and I bet you'll be flying and feeling comfortable soon. Ed Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead.com/Ercoupe/index.htm ed -at- edbur???khead.XXX change -at- to @, remove ??? and change XXX to com See also http://ercoupe.org website of the Ercoupe Owners Club
