All,
Many Ercoupers prefer to fly with the side screens open much or most of
the time. When flying purely for enjoyment, speed and/or efficiency
may not matter to a given person. Whatever floats one's boat ;<)
On the other hand, the Ercoupe was originally designed to be an
efficient means of transportation. It
still is after all these years. Consider the following quotation from
the Ercoupe Instruction Manual, p. 5:
"The cruising speed will be approximately 5 mph higher with the
windows closed. Therefore to
obtain the best possible cruising performance, the windows should be
closed and the airplane
should be flown at the highest altitude at which cruising rpm can be
maintained, due consideration
being given, of course, to the wind and the weather."
Accordingly, unless low and slow with a sidescreen open to enjoy and
take pictures of something,
on most occasions I would be high and lean for speed, range and the
greater options should an unplanned landing become necessary.
Having lost one chart thru the overhead ventilation slot between the
two windscreens, I very much prefer the "sun screen" overhead window.
With mirror film applied in slightly overlapping fore-aft strips (it
does shrink over time), one retains good visibility with 98% heat
reflection; and having a narrower vent slot over each occupant improves
comfort and reduces cabin air currents I found objectionable. If ERCO
and the FAA deem exit options with it safe, so will I.
Flying off the southern California coast to and from Catalina Island,
it's really beautiful about a thousand feet up over the beaches, boats
and harbors. I chose to transit at an altitude from which I could
either glide to the (high) island airport or to the mainland beach
should the engine quit at any given point en route. This minimized
exposure of the airframe to the highest salt environment, and
eliminated the need to carry water survival equipment.
Just some grist for the mill ;<)
WRB
--
On May 15, 2009, at 16:02, Daniel Arditi wrote:
Perhaps may be a little difference in drag between planes with
slightly different attitudes when flying straight and level ?
Just 'thinking in a loud voice'
Regards
daniel
From: Bob Swinney <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]; ALAN FAIRCLOUGH
<[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 10:12:25 AM
Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] Window kicking and ball cap retention.
I don't know what all the fuss is about with regard to the extra drag
caused by the open windows. I almost always fly with them down
(Florida). On the rare occasion that I close them there is not the
slightest indication of change in airspeed. I have experimented with
this on several occasions and the result is always the same....
Bob
From: ALAN FAIRCLOUGH <texasaviator@ yahoo.com>
Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Window kicking and ball cap retention.
To: ercoupe-tech@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 11:48 AM
Just read the post about using the center window to prevent a ball
cap from flying off.
I don't like the center window because in the event of an engine fire
on start up, I like to have the seat belts unfastened and windows
down all the way in case both pilot and passenger feel compelled to
get out the plane at the same time.
Alan Fairclough
