Today I was in San Diego, so I thought I would follow up on something mentioned here some time back. I believe someone asked if any of the original ERCO-built prototype engines were in existance. Included in the responses someone mentioned the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
I have family in town and visit the museum several times a year. It is great talking to the docents and some allowing you to pore through their logbooks and scrapbooks. Today I decided to inquire about the engine. I started by going on a tour of the basement. Here is where they do the restorations... engines to airframes. Today they were working on a P-26 Pea Shooter, a Corsair, and a 1903 Wright Engine (and what the mechanic called its pissline carbureator). When I asked the group of volunteers sitting around a workbench about the ERCO engine, several were puzzled, then one said it had been moved or maybe even sold. He brought me to the Senior Curator Tom Beres who took the time to talk to me about Ercoupes. He explained the engine was stored out at Gillispie Air Field in the Museum's hangar there. I took the 30 minute drive in traffic to Gillispie trying to get there before they closed at 3:30. I made it in 15 minutes leaving me an hour and a half to find someone who could help locate the engine. When I made it to the grounds at Gillispie, I found a miniature version of Silver Hill waiting for its Steven Udvar-Hazy. Among the old airframes and full ships on the ramp, I found someone who might be able to direct me. When I told him what I was looking for, he said it was no longer there. He then paused and said, "I could be wrong though." He pointed me to a hangar where a fully restored P-19, a WACO, a beauriful 1929 glider built by the students at San Diego High, and a 1911 Bleriot hung from the rafters. The men in side brought me into a room filled with engines on stands. Each one looked like it was ready to be installed as a zero time power plant... behind a diesel rotary Packard engine, the tiny ERCO was wedged against the wall. We moved several engines and the IL-116 came into full view. I snapped a bunch of pictures which I have posted in the Ercoupe Tech yahoo group pictures area. They await our moderator in order for you to view them. I hope a few of you find these useful and of interest. Best, John
