As recently as two months ago I asked a similar question on the Forum over at the Seaplane Pilots Association. I received the same explanation given here by the former chairman of Edo. Co-op ads announcing availability were already running in various publications when testing failed due to insurmountable problems.
Many experienced seaplane pilots also jumped in to explain the difficulty with low wing float plane designs, including docking challenges due to wing contact if a dock is above water level. Best, John On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 4:53 PM, Syd Cohen <[email protected]> wrote: > > > 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 > > > >
