"How about vortex generators and fancy wingtips?" Actually, there is a guy up in Twin Falls named Bob Hampton who has a set of wings for an Ercoupe that Mooney produced with a one-time STC. I have pictures of them I took when I went up to get my new center section. They are all metal, and they are not constructed with the geodesic design of the standard Ercoupe wing, but are like a traditional Mooney wing, only not tapered. They have turned-down wingtips like a Mooney. Bob says they are supposed to be faster, but the real advantage is they lower the stall speed to around 30 MPH! He wants to get an STC that will allow him to produce about six sets and sell them to his friends, then sell the manufacturing rights but take a cut off the STC if there is a market for them.
My A.I. and I discussed whether or not we could get the rights when Bob sells the project and set up just-in-time production in the Phillipines where the RV quick-build kits are manufactured, then sell the wings as a kit. The problem is that you just don't know if there is a market and what the price point would need to be. The whole Ercoupe hobby is moving toward LSA, and while it doesn't work for me, as a businessman I would want to cater to that market. I don't see the FAA approving a whole new wing for LSA because it would increase top speed; and besides, I'm getting the impression that Ercoupe owners are (how do I say it?) THRIFTY? Value Conscious? (But definitely not cheap...) Theoretically, it could happen. But it's not likely unless Bob gets appropval, you can talk him into making you a set, and get it approved by the Feds. Dave
