All- I have to set the record straight regarding my January column in Flight Training in which it is said that most Ercoupes have been converted over to conventional rudder pedals.
All of the words in the column are mine except for that very statement. It was added by a staff editor. Not sure why, but that's how it made it into the column. Regardless, I apologize for it appearing in print. I trust it will not dissuade anyone from considering the Ercoupe as a fine sport airplane purchase. One of my good friends, Don Abbott, owns a beautifully restored Ercoupe, and I have flown it several times. It is a fun world apart from the Aztec (Aztruck) I usually fly. Again, sorry for the error, and let me say I am impressed with the amount and quality of the activity on this forum. All the best, -Mark Twombly --- In [email protected], "carl_lavon" <profedi...@...> wrote: > > Merry Christmas friends and neighbors! Wanted to share that in the January > 2010 issue of AOPA's Flight Training magazine, author Mark Twombly wrote an > article about the differences in aircraft that are often subtle, yet > important for pilots to know when transitioning from one make or model to > another. > > Twombly wanted to give the reader a short history lesson about how one would > need to go back in aviation history to find truly unique aircraft designs > that reflected the personality of the actual designer. Naturally, the author > talked about our beloved Ercoupe and Fred Weick's vision of building an > aircraft that was as safe as possible and how he designed the 'coupe without > rudder pedals. Twombly's inclusion of the Ercoupe's history only covered a > couple of paragraphs, and it seemed pretty much accurate given my limited > knowledge of Weick's overall design until he got to the last paragraph that > concluded his discussion of the Ercoupe. Here's what he wrote: > > "Along with its distinctive puppy-dog appearance, the Ercoupe offers the > pilot a unique flying experience--cruising along with the side windows slid > down, arm on the sill and feet flat on the floor, literally steering it with > the wheel. Over time, however, the unique inter-connected rudder was > considered less of an asset, and most Ercoupes flying today have been > retrofitted with traditional rudder pedals." Flight Training Magazine, > January 2010 ed., p. 34 > > It is the last sentence in the paragraph that I took exception with but > I am not an Ercoupe historian as some are on this Tech-list, so I didn't send > an email to the author to tell him that he's wrong on that last point. Is he > wrong? Or am I just not up on my Ercoupe history since I say that most > Ercoupes flying today have NOT been retrofitted with "traditonal rudder > pedals?" Inquiring minds would like to know... > > Respectfully, > > Carl LaVon >
