TWIN ERCOUPE
A book about the Ercoupe/Aircoupe*, with lots of pictures and some
history, is in the works by Mark Franek (unfortunately, e-mail to him at
[email protected] bounced!
Mark needs any new information he can get; he'd especially like to get some
information on the twin Ercoupe (two fuselages put together, with twin
cockpits) that was used in airshows.
I told him it ran off with a Twin Mustang!
There is twin Ercoupe information awaiting his checking back with me!
Clearly, this is not the end of the Twin Ercoupe story, so I moved it here,
where there is more room.
The twin Ercoupe was two fuselages put together, with twin cockpits for a
total of four people. The plane could be controlled from either cockpit
{It's obvious that North American got the idea from you know who ? The P-82
Twin Mustang - SB,III}. "It was used in airshows during the 1950's." Mark
says the August 1998 Flying has a picture of it near the back of the
magazine. It crashed after doing a show, when another plane (the original
Sampson-Big Pitts) hit it while on final approach. Both airplanes were
destroyed {per
Mark}.
* - see the story of the Ercoupe/Aircoupe, the brainchild of prolific
inventor Emile Berliner's son, Henry.
However, Dave McKenzie, who tried unsuccessfully to reach Mark on 13 Feb
03, sent the message along to me and I've reproduced it here (only slightly
edited):
- - - · - - -
The "Twin 'Coupe" that you refer to was constructed by my late friend, (at
least I've heard that he succumbed after suffering a fractured back in a
fall at home in Grant, Alabama) Grady Thrasher for use in the, "Thrasher
Brother's Air Show" in 1946. It was used until Grady "retired" from air show
flying and assumed the responsibility of, "Assistant Commandant of Fixed Wing
Training" at Fort Rucker, Alabama about 1950.
He then sold the airplane to an Ercoupe dealer in Columbus, Georgia who
scavenged it as a parts source for Ercoupe repairs which led to its demise.
