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Paul, I have thought about this- I don't think that the split elevator is the miracle we've all been looking for in coupe safety or landing performance. Doesnt the split-elevator logic go like this: more travel, thus better flare-out, and slower landing speeds? and, all the split does is reduce the total surface area so you dont have "too much" control authority. My thoughts are these- I have owned and flown 3 different types of coupe now, I've had a C model with a standard tail, I've had a G model with the split tail, and now a D model with a standard tail again. They are all the same airplane, same wing, obviously with a few minor variations like landing gear and windshields. Firstly, any Ercoupe flown below about 60 mph starts do drop out of the sky like a brick- no matter what the max gross weight is. I found my best landings are with about 1000-1200 rpm carried all the way down until just over the end of the pavement, and then slowly pull the power and with a minor flare let it settle in- all I ever feel is the wheels spinning up, no bounce, no hard landing. Try pulling the power off earlier, and watch the speed drop- 60, 55, 50, 45.......and here comes the runway, and all of the angle of attack in the world will not arrest the sink rate. The only thing that stops the sink rate is more power. All 3 of my coupes land the same- and a higher angle of attack and "lower landing speed" only equal one thing in the Ercoupe- more drag and increased sink rate. The split elevator was supposed to be Erco's "better idea", but I dont think it produces what everyone thought it would. Land any Ercoupe with a high angle of attack and a slow speed and see what you get- usually a hard landing- so to install an elevator that intentionally gives you "higher angle of attack and slower airspeed" is the opposite of what any Ercoupe owner wants to do. Save the money and buy something else for the coupe. Jan Z Fresno CA ================================================================== TO UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
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