Hi Bill, >From all that I have read in "A Touch of Class" and "From The Ground Up," >those photos are of the test airplane. After flying it in many areas, with >many water landings, ERCO realized that the SeaCoups would have to have its >rudders independent from the ailerons so it could be kicked straight when >landing crosswind in canals or rivers. It could not touch down in a crab >because it might flip. Due to this, before certifying the airplane for EDO >floats, the CAA required a spin test. The plane was flown to Arizona, in my >recollection, and spun there. As the old EDO guy said, the plane wouldn't >come out of the spin (it was due to the pendulum effect of the floats,) and >the test pilot bailed out. I don't know of any other Coupe that was flown >with floats other than that test airplane.
I'm sure that Photoshop didn't exist when those pictures were published in "Touch of Class." Syd On Mar 9, 2010, at 4:18 PM, Bill Coons wrote: > Hi, > I know this has gone around in the past, but I have two friends with a > dinner bet on this one. Of course it is about the Ercoupe on floats. > Does anyone have the REAL answer on this one. At Oshkosh one year I > visited the EDO float booth and talked to an old guy (sure) there. He > said that on the day of the FAA test, The Coupe went out of control and > the pilot had to bail out. Therefore no certification. That does not > mean to say that they never attached them and flew anyway, but it sure > was not legal. I guess the bet should come down to Did they fly, or > were they certified. ? > Next. Where did all of the photos with floats come from. There are lots > of them.They sure look authentic but Photoshop is a wonderful tool. > Does anyone know of any Coupe that has flown legally or illegally. > > I have done several drawings with floats attached, but I have an > artist's license and do anything I feel like. (Almost) > > What say... > Bill Coons >
