Came home from Vietnam a paraplegic and needed something to bring me back to life. A friend offered me a ride in his Cessna 150. After the flight I saw this cute little airplane for sale and found out it didn't have any rudder pedals. I bought the Ercoupe had to modify the brakes. My Ercoupe N87101 was the very first Ercoupe to have disc brakes with a FAA STC. I flew that little plane during some of the best times of my life. After 15 years I failed my FAA physical due to high blood pressure and lost my medical card. My wife and I also had two kids to raise. That little plane is a big reason I didn't end up a drunk, or on drugs or dead.
In 1968 My father bought a 1947 Ercoup while he was serving on a B-52 crew at Blytheville AFB in Arkansas. When we drove out to see it for the first time it was sitting in weeds 6 ft. tall and needed a lot of work. He paid $900 for it and boy were we excited to own an airplane. In 1969, my brother and I squirmed into the seat next to our father and flew it to N.C. when our dad left the Air Force. And as time went by we worked to perfect this aircraft into a better than new example. In 1974 my dad and I flew her from NC to Oshkosh, Wisconsin where we won Best Ercoup. My dad's name was Mitch Cooke and he flew this plane out of Twin Lakes airport in Mocksville, NC. We had a lot of fun with this project, and now looking back I think these were the best times spent with my dad. He served our country and he had a great time flying. And I had fun with the easy to fly Ercoup. What a great airplane. I hope N-3265H is still out there somewhere. My dad is passed away and I'm almost 60, but those memories will never fade.
I ran the N number and it says your dad sold it in 1975 and it went to Canada. Without knowing it's Canadian registration, I cannot determine it's history since.
A friend from Iowa gave me my first Ercoupe ride, in a 'G' model around 2008. I earned my sport pilot license, in a 'C' model (N3174H) in 2011. By the way, I'm disabled - from polio - and can't walk. But thanks to Fred Weick, and the Ercoupe, I can fly.
Congratulations my friend!!!! Flying sets you free & I’m sure that’s what it’s done for you!!! you make me smile today!! also my heart 💙 & wings go out to you Michael!!!!!
@Neil Carpenter I remember an Oscar Brand album of aviation-themed songs from back in my childhood. In one song, "Light Planes On Parade", the Ercoupe (by then renamed the Aircoupe) is mentioned: *"The Aircoupe's just a flying car, except it's got no doors;* *It's made with built-in bravery they never sell in stores.* *It doesn't have any pedals, so it drives your feet insane;* *That's the reason why, if you want to fly, you can always find a plane!"* ruclips.net/video/kqvMR4Q4kLk/видео.html
My father had one. I flew in it many times. When I was 10 he would let me fly it all the time. In a good headwind you could go backwards over the ground. Dad used to joke the Ercoup didn’t have an airspeed indicator it only had a clock.
I loved my Ercoupe. I believe it would be worth mentioning that the fuel system was operated by pumping fuel from the wings to the center gravity flow center tank. If you lost a fuel pump, you still had a full center tank. Thanks for a wonderful video.
After 43 years in aviation, this is one of the best documentaries I've seen on a light aircraft model. Thank you Don and your team, for putting this all together and making it available for us all to enjoy, I learned a lot about, and have a much greater respect for, an aircraft that I always felt was pretty darn cool. 😊👍🏼🙏🏻
My dad flew me and my mom from west Texas to San Francisco when I was about 2 (I'm 72 now and he's 96). He told me I spent a lot of the time on the floorboard under my mom's feet during the trip. Another thing I remember is him telling me how he had to circle and circle to get over the mountains. He flew F6F's in the Pacific and owned at least 3 other planes the I can remember (Cub, Tripacer, 182). Thanks for your story.
Thanks for making this documentary of the Ercoupe. It brings back fond memories of flying both examples (with and without rudder pedals) as a kid. We had both at the FBO where I worked as a line boy and my boss would let me fly them pretty much whenever since they were a “blight on the industry “ and no one else wanted to. I thought they were a blast to fly and I enjoyed every minute! Thanks again for the memories of a really beautiful little plane.
If memory serves me, Sky King's niece Penny had an Ercoupe named the Powder Puff. Sky's first had a Cessna P-50 and ultimately a Cessna 310 named the Songbird. The TV show, as a kid, that first made me want to be a pilot.
Just an FYI, back in the mid 1980's I worked for Forney's as their chief forklift driver (located on Laporte Ave. in Fort Collins, Colorado). There were many old buildings at the time, some of which were filled with various products Forney's made but eventually quit selling. In one of the warehouses tucked way back in a corner were pallets of Ercoupe propellers and steering wheels, along with other parts. It might be worth investigating whether those parts are still there.
BRAVO!!! Excellent video! As an aircraft maintenance engineer in Canada, I had the pleasure to annually inspect only one of these treasures, but gained an appreciation for the simplicity and ruggedness of the design. I'm retired now, but remember the 'coupe fondly.
This video brought back some wonderful memories. My father owned a 1946 Ercoupe and taught me how to fly at 8 years old. His Ercoupe is still around today. I researched the tail number and found its location. Thank you for this wonderful video.
Great video. I learned to fly in a Champ and retired as a 747 Capt. Any Ercoupe is a welcome site on my airport. They're an important part of General Aviation history.
Indeed! Years ago my brothers and I were at the EL Toro MCAS, I believe...don't think it was at March AFB, for the annual air show. Jets and warbirds spanned the tarmac. We found a beautiful polished aluminum Ercoupe, a sight of joy! Just had to go for a close long look. My father flew with all of us in N3134H, a 1946 415-C, when we were wee lads. Seeing a pristine Ercoupe that day was beautiful. The owner was surprised at our excitement over his bird.
To Daniel Baker, the Tucker car was a very innovative design, like the Ercoupe was... The availability of parts and supplies before & after WW2 was limited, but the Ercoupe marched on with a privately developed engine, fabric covered wood structures (metal shortage), and the Tucker used an improvised surplus (but new) aircraft engine (post-war automotive engine shortage), after WW2 - much like the Ercoupe. The Ercoupe and the Tucker were both known for their performance and safety... The Ercoupe and the Tucker were both very unusual & recognisable designs: The Tucker for the 3rd 'steerable' headlight, rear engine, 'Pop-Out' windscreen; and the Ercoupe for the anti-stall / anti-spin characteristic, the recognisable empenage , and the first practical use of the nosewheel 'Tricycle' type landing gear... And both companies were at extreme odds with the larger/much more financially (& politically) powerful competitors, because of their unconventional , yet far better designs.... Both companies finally succumbed to the relentless political / financial pressure that their much larger competitors continually provided, because of their unusual-yet superior designs that the larger companies refused to supply to their customers... Yes, Very similar stories indeed....
In 1947 a New Zealander called Harry Newton, who had flown Wellington and Mosquito Bombers with the Royal Air Force during WW2, went back to his farm in NZ, but, missing his girlfriend, returned to England, to find she had not missed him quite so much and had moved on. Wanting to get home, he found that he could not fly by airliner for about two years and could only go by ship if he worked his passage as a stoker. At a trade show in Brussels, Belgium he purchased an Ercoupe, s/n 4780, from the agent and flew it home to New Zealand, a journey of some 15.500 nautical miles, which he accomplished in 17 days, (although he spent two days in Malta on the way, so he could have averaged 1000 miles per day). The aircraft landed at his home town of New Plymouth, and remained, for many years, the smallest aircraft ever to cross the Tasman Sea. It was sold to Auckland Aero Club in 1948 In 1951 it was damaged in an accident at what is now Auckland Airport and was considered beyond economic repair. A Mr Peter Beck spent some 10 years restoring it and it has returned to flight. It was re-purchased by Harry Newton's family and is still flying out of New Plymouth. It is registered as ZQ-AQX and was built as NC94669 being registered as OO-EXC in Belgium. Incidentally, the official cause of the accident was listed as ''stalled and crashed on landing''!
Great video. When the footage gets to the Alon, one that was pictured there was N5475E, and that's the one that I got my PPL in during 1968-69. Great little airplanes.
Several things have caused such an increase in aviation costs, that it's no longer even reasonable for the average man... (Or woman). The Ercoupe was the right plane, at the right time, when a company could build airplanes for anyone, without overbearing regulations of the government, and over-greed of the manufacturer... 4-5 hours of training! You know that the FAA and flight training schools today, would both be squealing over that! And with minimal training, and basic knowledge of navigation, one could escape the 'surly bonds of Earth,' and travel to locations with ease, cheaply, and safely. Sure, one can take an Ercoupe, or Aircoupe, and add a bunch of high tech equipment, GPS and all that. But I thought airplanes were about flying!?
I bought my first aircraft in 1974 ... a 1946 Ercoupe 415C with rudder pedals, 85hp continental and extended baggage compartment for $3900 ... I loved that plane and would buy another today if the chance ever came up.
@@dryan8377 Sorry for the late reply, I just saw your comment. I flew with a friend in a 152 and that was the most terrified that I have ever been in a plane. Meadow Lake airport, at 6877 feet doesn't lend itself well to under powered aircraft, and we weren't getting much in the way of lift. We were however, quickly running out of runway...
Thanks Mr. Abbott for the wonderful video. I learned to fly and soloed in a Mooney Cadet in 1975 and didn't know until watching your fine video that its production was tied to Ercoup. I loved the Cadet. The best part was that I was paying $15/hour wet!
Wow!!! I'm (almost) speechless. Tremendous research about a lesser known craft that still flies in safety today. Way ahead of its time, beautiful in a vintage 1950's sort of way, a classic craft treated poorly by the GA community at large. It really is a designed safety craft that MANY of its ideas should have been incorporated into newer craft over time. Thank you so much for a well covered history of the 'lil Ercoupe- past due recognition for an airplane ahead of its time!
When I was a kid in the fifties and sixties, I wanted to fly desperately and my Dad considered buying an Ercoupe (which until this vid I thought was pronounced Air coupe). I remember getting in the one he was looking at as he too wanted to learn to fly... but ultimately, he declined saying, "he had two boys that one day would want to go to college" which we ultimately did but all these years later I feel a bit guilty he sacrificed what he wanted to do because of my brother and me. I did ultimately learn to fly, have over 2000 hours and IFR, but still desire to try an Ercoupe.
The later versions were produced by a new company named Alon. The plane originally was built by Ercoupe. When Alon bought Ercoupe the name was changed to the Alon Aircoupe with a sliding canopy. Rudder pedals was added, but the hp never changed. Later, Mooney bought out Alon and produced it with a single vertical stabilizer, and I believe a 100 hp engine and called it "The Mooney Cadet." The weight must have increased because it was very under powered. I've flown all three models.
What a wonderful, wonderful video!! Put together so professionally, that it is a pure joy to watch. Thank you so much for putting this historical gem of a aircraft under such great review. Fred did just as much for the advancement of aircraft and aviation, than anyone in the business. How about the Piper PA-28, need I say more than that?
I had a Ercoupe in the nineties, along with a Cessna 172, and a 175. The Ercoupe was the most fun, and cheaper on gas, it was also easiest to fly. Wish I could find it. Can't remember the N number expect that it had a H, a 0, a 7, and I think a 4. It left from Arkansas, and went to Texas painted white with a red stripe. I got to talk to Mr. Weick at a Ercoupe fly-in, just south of Russleville, Arkansas. Some called it "The Chicken Ranch Fly-in, because it was at a huge chicken ranch, complete with a Saturday night ho-down and all the fried eggs you could eat for breakfast. He was a very nice and interesting man to talk to, with a remarkable memory.
As a kid, I used to ride my bike to a local airport to buy dope...no, not that kind, the kind you paint on canvas wings and on the rice paper of model planes. This field had a lot of Ercoupes. Some older pilots there scoffed at them and said they were too easy to fly.
which explains why the ercoupes were flying when they hid in their hangars,due to too much wind. Furthermore, no airfield is too challenging for the Ercoupe.
So happy I found this video, my Father was the CFO at Alon in McPherson I have fond memories of being 12 years old and washing the plane. I have 8mm home movies - now digital - of the day they released the 4 seater plus some black and white photos of the 4 seater. That 4 seater was one of the most beautiful airplanes ever made....
Great video! Thank you so much. My son flew as a Young Eagle with Sid in his Ercoupe. Now we are both taking lessons at the same airport he keeps his Ercoupe . Yes.....I am bragging. Sorry.
Excellent work, Don. My first airplane was N99495, a 415 C/D. Loved it, and learned firsthand how you could, with effort, steer yourself into something that resembled a groundloop in a strong crosswind.
If I had, had the money in 1959 I would have been an Aircoupe owner. I loved the aircraft, but couldn't raise enough money to swing the deal. I still love them. Thanks for this video.
The Ercoupe was the first plane I flew in (as a passenger) when I was 14 years old. It was owned by a friend of my dad, in Havana, an experience that I will always remember, my father as an aviation fanatic, was in love with this little plane. Thank you for putting together this historic documentary.
Wow!! What nostalgia. In 1953, I co-owned on Ercoupe. There were 6 co-owners in our "club". Booking time got to be a major problem, so I sold my share to other 5 for $300.
Thank you for all the work on this great documentary . I think people should always choose safety and practicality over looking cool, after all it is your life.
Excellent job! When I was learning to fly at the Bayport Aerodrome on Ling Island, as grass strip, there were probably a half dozen Ercoupes on the field, all of them were parked in a row on one side. It was kind of cool to see them all there, some never flew, others were meticulously maintained some flew once a month. Eventually they all disappeared and now there are none left.
My brother John Rogers was a great fan of the ercoup. I can remember flying with him in the late 50's in his 1950 ercoupe. He later sold it but when he found it crashed in an Alaska airfield he recused and rebuilt it. He made many a modifications to his plane. All were approved by the FAA. One paticular one was adding extra fuel tanks in the wings to give extend range when he lived in Alaska. He want more range because of longer distances that Alaska challenge all aircraft . His wife, a retired FAA inspector Betty still has the plane.
My first flight, at the age of 14, was in an Ercoupe. In my memoirs, I describe the takeoff thusly: The transition was magical. One instant we were a high-speed tricycle, rumbling and jouncing across the pasture. The next we were a graceful aluminum bird floating through the air, wings dipping slightly back and forth, nose climbing above the horizon, the rush of air around the canopy accompanied by the constant drumming of the engine. I looked out the right side and watched as the ground sank away under the wing, the fence and power lines at the end of the pasture passing beneath us. I was flying! And I was hooked for life.
Excellent documentary. I have flown in many of Fred's designs (rode with my dad in an Ercoupe as a kid) piloted a Pawnee and pretty much every version of the Cherokee:140/150/160/161/180/235/200 & 201 Arrow, fixed gear Saratoga and Cherokee Six.
My Coupe used to belong to Tom Jones ( no not the singer) who was a good friend of Fred. My logs have personal notes they passed back and forth. Including some design ideas Fred had that didnt make to production. ScareCoupes was the term I always heard of them. I think thats just from the screaming tires can make in a Xwind landing. After 24 years owning one it never gets boring.
Great documentary. While Syd Cohen is clearly an Ercoupe expert there is an important correction to be made at 18:54. He says full length ailerons improve “lateral” control while (correctly) motioning “roll” with his arms. Roll control is along the longitudinal axis, pitch is along the lateral axis. One way to remember that is the horizontal stringers that link the bulkheads are called “longerons” running along the longitudinal axis. One other little thing, most of us are stepping on the right rudder peddle more because of torque, gyroscopic precession and p-factor than the prop slipstream around the fuselage, IMHO :)
Good points. The video does say to point out mistakes if you see them. I am not a pilot, but I took a few lessons, and recall the point about torque, precession and the rudder.
Really enjoyed this video production, and it filled in a lot of missing information for me. I was a riveter and (as my engineering studies progressed) later a draftsman for AirCoupe when it was at the Carlsbad, NM airport. That experience opened my eyes to aviation, prompting a lifelong interest and a career at NASA in Houston. Thanks, Mr. Abbott.
I enjoyed this. Thank you! I was born in 1940 and grew up near a private airport, Pearson airport, in my hoimetown of Vancouver, Washington. Seeing the special look of the Ercoupe flying over is one of my tender childhood memories. Thank you again!
Thank you for putting this together and publishing it so many others can see it WoW ... Very informative and I really learned alot .. good job. A & P mechanic retired Phoenix AZ
Around 15 years ago, there was a fly-in at a small town near me. I drove over to see it. I'm guessing there were around 30 Ercoupes there. The only other plane visible was a bright yellow Piper. Our local paper took a picture of the Piper and published 3 or 4 sentences about the fly-in. If they would have got out of their car and talked to someone or googled, Ercoupe, they could have printed an interesting story. That's sad journalism. I quit subscribing to their paper.
Dad flew me around in one of these when I was a kid. Good times. I remember him explaining the unique control system. This brings back good memories...
VERY WELL DONE! EXCELLENT HISTORICAL COMPILATION OF WHICH I LEARNED A TON OF INFORMATION. THE FAA OR EAA HAS A COMPETITION GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR A DESIGN OF AN AIRCRAFT THAT "ANYONE" CAN OPERATE. WELL, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY ERCOUPE! I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS VIDEO AND THANK YOU FOR POSTING IT!
What a great story !! This has always been the "girl of my dreams" since I first saw one in Flying Magazine back in the 1950's. I never got around to owning one like I'd one day hoped to do. I used to day dream about the adventures I'd have tooling around the country. I was later surprised to hear pilots scoff at "my gal" as being a sissy's plane because it didn't have rudder pedals and steered like a car and you couldn't crab in on landing and etc. I kept my mouth shut because those were things that made sense to me and were a plus, not a minus but I wasn't a pilot yet, so what did I know? Years later I bought a Cessna 150 and went as far as soloing and working on my private ticked (never got it though) but the upkeep, starting a family and job requirements got to be too much and I sold it. The only reason I bought the damned thing was because everyone said "you don't want an Ercoupe that's not a pilot's plane" . Like a dummy I listened to them and have rued the day every since. The Cessna was never "the plane of my dreams". Now at 79 and with failing eyesight I can only drop by the local airport and hope that someone in an Ercoupe will fly in for a few touch and goes and let me dream of what might have been as I WATCH. My advice to any youngster with a love for flying and especially this airplane is if you get the opportunity to own one, don't let any smart ass talk you out of it. Follow your dream.
Very interesting story!!! I did not realise that the plane was touted as un-spinable... And that aluminum became un-obtainable during WW2... This explains the heaviier wood Ercoupes, that apparently were not put into production...The use of several different types and mfgrs. of engines, with opposed & in-line 4 cylinder designs , because of limited availability of small engines and funding. The proposed: 4 place plane and the interesting float planes... One of the most interesting things was the name of the planes being changed from ; Erco to Ercoupe to Aircoupe, and why/when the changes took place... The interview with Fred Weick , was extremely interesting, in how he developed this spin-resistant design... I remember hearing about some of the Ercoupes as having wing-ribs that were placed on a position that were diagnol to the spars on a triangilar shape to save weight, and the split twin vert stabs that improved stability about the verticle axis, without induced yaw from the spiral prop-wash... ... The use of the now standard tricycle landing gear layout to improve ground handling, and the light & strong rear trailing arm struts on the main landing gears... The full- length ailerons and the rudders that were coupled with them , meant the pilots needed only 2 inputs for the primary flight controls; which helped the plane's flight stability and helped the plane to resist spins & stalls... Very interesting planes , that had many innovations, many of which are still being used currently... These planes and the people who developed them, really improved the safety & reliability of the current aircraft being developed & flown... This is a Great program of great planes... Thank You for presenting this very important piece of American Aviation History and Innovation...
Well hello, FlyCaster. I'm sure it was N5474F. Owned by Ran Aviation there at SMD. My dad soloed 74F on Oct 23,1968. I got my PPL in 74F on Nov 10,1968. I'd ride my bicycle 11 miles each way. Would spend a week's after school grocery carry-out wages for an hour lesson with Margaret Ringenberg. Great times!!!
Great story! I first flew this plane In 1948 when I was 8 years old. My first flight. I was forever hooked on aviation and now after 25,000+ hours starting with the Navy and then United airlines have this airplane to thank. JC
Very interesting. As a kid my dad would take me to the local airport to watch planes take off and land. We live in the Washington DC suburbs. I was always intrigued by the Ercoupe parked there. I thought they were the coolest looking airplanes. He would tell me that his uncle worked at the Erco factory in College Park until he went into the Army. Sadly, my uncle died parachuting into Europe in the war.
Thank You for this great video. I think this is the best "start to finish" documentary on this great aircraft. I hope to be able to restore and/or own one someday soon.
Thank you for posting such an informative video. Can I make a little request: I found it difficult to concentrate on the content as the music is rather loud? down 3db would be a good ratio I expect? Thanks.
It's possible that you have accidentally misspelled it but I've always pronounced it that way. I don't know of a Bear Cubs born to fly but an aircraft equipped with a steering wheel and no Rudder pedals is to me; an Air Coupe. I did however, mispronounce Bombardier for a long while.
Thanks for this video. I have always loved the design and history. Perhaps I will be a future owner of one. Would be great if somebody made a kitform of an updated model!
My dad never told me that his introductory flight and first 5 lessons in April 1948 were in an Ercoupe. I just bought one last week, and wish my dad a former ATP pilot with over 15000 hours could be here to see it. Unfortunately he passed away in 2010. I feel like buying this plane and teaching my son how to fly is a family tradition. God bless!
@@leelafarlett4401 I bought one now over a year and a half ago. We are getting close to graduating her from Hangar Queen to Flying Girl. My son has helped me a lot and is looking forward to learning to fly.
With all due respect, if your father never told you his introductory flights were in an Ercoupe, then how did you find this information out? Genuine question. Thanks.
My first "ride" was in a Ercoupe around 1964, hung out at the local airport and was able to get rides from time to time. I still remember that first ride and from then on I was hooked at 12yoa. and have had a lifelong passion for flying. Great story on the Ercoupe.
Thank you so much Mr Abbott. As an early teen, my first ride in an airplane was in an Ercoupe. As most I thought it was pronounced Air Coupe. This was in the early '70s at spring bank airport west of Calgary. Mr Chapman even let me steer it. Boy let me tell you was I nervous. Been a wing nut ever since.
Well done video. A number of years ago, I put down a deposit on my first airplane purchase...a ‘46 Ercoupe 415C. About 2 weeks before I was to pick it up in Ohio and fly it back to Chicago, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. Obviously the need for all available funds for treatment of her illness necessitated asking for my deposit back, thus cancelling the sale. My wife made a full recovery, and Ill always remember the flight I took in that Ercoupe, which , at the time, convinced me to buy it. As a 2-service veteran (Both Marine Corps AND Navy), Ive been around many interesting aircraft, and as a pilot I have logged time in a dozen or so different planes, but none captured my personal flying interest quite like the Ercoupe, and I still have a Polaroid photo on my desk of the one I almost owned.
The Alon Ercoupe made in the 60's had a vacuum pump for the gyros so it could be IFR certified and many were. I think the True Track for 5K could be installed and field approved. Thanks for your comments on the video. Don Abbott
A great little plane! Back in the late '60s I used to fly one of the later versions built by Mooney! Little bugger would true out around 120 MPH with a 90 HP engine on about 4 gal/hour! Unlike the original, it did have rudder pedals! I dubbed it a "Mexican P-38"! Totally politically incorrect now! Good! I hate PC!
@Nobby Barnes Political correctness is a cancer that destroys from within while creating a sense of euphoria! You haven't brains enough to figure that out! Unlike you, I'm not propagandized by anyone! As for "slack jawed", you wouldn't make a pimple on my butt! So stuff it, idiot!
My first aircraft was a 1946 Ercoupe. I loved it. Sunny Sunday, 90 mph, canopy open and elbow on the frame. Remember one time landing at Battle Creek. Looked over to see two F-15s and two A-10s holding short waiting for me to putt putt in for landing. Bet they used more fuel waiting than I did the whole time I owned it. I went on to an L-17 after that. High performance, retractable, variable pitch...what a difference. Weick was a genius with the ‘coupe design!!
I flew one once in Sherbrooke, Quebec, I owned a BD-4 at the time and had flown in to Sherbrooke to visit relatives. I parked by the Ercoupe and started talking to the owner. We traded rides. It was great fun but I kept searching for the rudder pedals absent mindedly. By the way, great history video. Really enjoyed it.
I find it interesting that private planes were in great demand following the war, in the same way that cars were. And probably a lot of other stuff that was put on hold during the war. My mom's second husband returned from war and got into car sales - and he said he didn't have time in the day to sell all the cars that he could.
Came home from Vietnam a paraplegic and needed something to bring me back to life. A friend offered me a ride in his Cessna 150. After the flight I saw this cute little airplane for sale and found out it didn't have any rudder pedals. I bought the Ercoupe had to modify the brakes. My Ercoupe N87101 was the very first Ercoupe to have disc brakes with a FAA STC. I flew that little plane during some of the best times of my life. After 15 years I failed my FAA physical due to high blood pressure and lost my medical card. My wife and I also had two kids to raise. That little plane is a big reason I didn't end up a drunk, or on drugs or dead.
You can indeed fly without medical with Light Sports these days and some Ercoupe are certified as light sports, all you need is drivers license.
In 1968 My father bought a 1947 Ercoup while he was serving on a B-52 crew at Blytheville AFB in Arkansas. When we drove out to see it for the first time it was sitting in weeds 6 ft. tall and needed a lot of work. He paid $900 for it and boy were we excited to own an airplane. In 1969, my brother and I squirmed into the seat next to our father and flew it to N.C. when our dad left the Air Force. And as time went by we worked to perfect this aircraft into a better than new example. In 1974 my dad and I flew her from NC to Oshkosh, Wisconsin where we won Best Ercoup. My dad's name was Mitch Cooke and he flew this plane out of Twin Lakes airport in Mocksville, NC. We had a lot of fun with this project, and now looking back I think these were the best times spent with my dad. He served our country and he had a great time flying. And I had fun with the easy to fly Ercoup. What a great airplane. I hope N-3265H is still out there somewhere. My dad is passed away and I'm almost 60, but those memories will never fade.
I ran the N number and it says your dad sold it in 1975 and it went to Canada. Without knowing it's Canadian registration, I cannot determine it's history since.
A friend from Iowa gave me my first Ercoupe ride, in a 'G' model around 2008. I earned my sport pilot license, in a 'C' model (N3174H) in 2011. By the way, I'm disabled - from polio - and can't walk. But thanks to Fred Weick, and the Ercoupe, I can fly.
So proud of you Michael!!!! What a wonderful accomplishment!!!!!!!!
Congratulations my friend!!!! Flying sets you free & I’m sure that’s what it’s done for you!!! you make me smile today!! also my heart 💙 & wings go out to you Michael!!!!!
@Neil Carpenter I remember an Oscar Brand album of aviation-themed songs from back in my childhood. In one song, "Light Planes On Parade", the Ercoupe (by then renamed the Aircoupe) is mentioned:
*"The Aircoupe's just a flying car, except it's got no doors;*
*It's made with built-in bravery they never sell in stores.*
*It doesn't have any pedals, so it drives your feet insane;*
*That's the reason why, if you want to fly, you can always find a plane!"*
ruclips.net/video/kqvMR4Q4kLk/видео.html
Neil Carpent
Congratulations! Truly a remarkable example of perseverance. 🛫❤
My father had one. I flew in it many times. When I was 10 he would let me fly it all the time. In a good headwind you could go backwards over the ground. Dad used to joke the Ercoup didn’t have an airspeed indicator it only had a clock.
Or with really high headwinds, use a calendar!
I loved my Ercoupe. I believe it would be worth mentioning that the fuel system was operated by pumping fuel from the wings to the center gravity flow center tank. If you lost a fuel pump, you still had a full center tank. Thanks for a wonderful video.
After 43 years in aviation, this is one of the best documentaries I've seen on a light aircraft model. Thank you Don and your team, for putting this all together and making it available for us all to enjoy, I learned a lot about, and have a much greater respect for, an aircraft that I always felt was pretty darn cool. 😊👍🏼🙏🏻
Thank you, AfricanFlightStar. You said it all much better than I could.
yes, very well done. THANKS
super
Well said and I totally agree!
I have watched this video at least five times and almost feel like I can tell the story to others verbatim! Thanks so much Don for making it!
I couldn't stop watching. Very well made and a fascinating story!
My dad flew me and my mom from west Texas to San Francisco when I was about 2 (I'm 72 now and he's 96). He told me I spent a lot of the time on the floorboard under my mom's feet during the trip. Another thing I remember is him telling me how he had to circle and circle to get over the mountains. He flew F6F's in the Pacific and owned at least 3 other planes the I can remember (Cub, Tripacer, 182). Thanks for your story.
Was he on a carrier and which one?
@@jockellis Hormet VF11
arnoguy My Father was duty officer for VF-81 on the Wasp’s first cruise.
Thanks for making this documentary of the Ercoupe. It brings back fond memories of flying both examples (with and without rudder pedals) as a kid. We had both at the FBO where I worked as a line boy and my boss would let me fly them pretty much whenever since they were a “blight on the industry “ and no one else wanted to. I thought they were a blast to fly and I enjoyed every minute! Thanks again for the memories of a really beautiful little plane.
If memory serves me, Sky King's niece Penny had an Ercoupe named the Powder Puff. Sky's first had a Cessna P-50 and ultimately a Cessna 310 named the Songbird. The TV show, as a kid, that first made me want to be a pilot.
It was a T-50, not a P-50, also nick named "The bamboo bomber."
Excellent documentary! The level of research, script and production proves it was a labor of love. Thank you for creating it and sharing on RUclips.
Just an FYI, back in the mid 1980's I worked for Forney's as their chief forklift driver (located on Laporte Ave. in Fort Collins, Colorado). There were many old buildings at the time, some of which were filled with various products Forney's made but eventually quit selling. In one of the warehouses tucked way back in a corner were pallets of Ercoupe propellers and steering wheels, along with other parts. It might be worth investigating whether those parts are still there.
BRAVO!!! Excellent video! As an aircraft maintenance engineer in Canada, I had the pleasure to annually inspect only one of these treasures, but gained an appreciation for the simplicity and ruggedness of the design. I'm retired now, but remember the 'coupe fondly.
This video brought back some wonderful memories. My father owned a 1946 Ercoupe and taught me how to fly at 8 years old. His Ercoupe is still around today. I researched the tail number and found its location. Thank you for this wonderful video.
Yes, I know where my '46 is today, over in Clearwater Fl & I go over once and a while and pet it...
When I was a kid my father began to rebuilt an Ercoupe in our home parking, this video brought great memories. Congrats
Yes! I do remember our father’s Ercoupe project!
Great video. I learned to fly in a Champ and retired as a 747 Capt. Any Ercoupe is a welcome site on my airport. They're an important part of General Aviation history.
Indeed! Years ago my brothers and I were at the EL Toro MCAS, I believe...don't think it was at March AFB, for the annual air show. Jets and warbirds spanned the tarmac.
We found a beautiful polished aluminum Ercoupe, a sight of joy! Just had to go for a close long look. My father flew with all of us in N3134H, a 1946 415-C, when we were wee lads.
Seeing a pristine Ercoupe that day was beautiful. The owner was surprised at our excitement over his bird.
I'm just now llearning about Airplanes. The story about the Ercoupe reminds me of story of the Tucker automobile which was way ahead of its time.
THE STORY LINE IS NOT EVEN CLOSE
To Daniel Baker, the Tucker car was a very innovative design, like the Ercoupe was... The availability of parts and supplies before & after WW2 was limited, but the Ercoupe marched on with a privately developed engine, fabric covered wood structures (metal shortage), and the Tucker used an improvised surplus (but new) aircraft engine (post-war automotive engine shortage), after WW2 - much like the Ercoupe. The Ercoupe and the Tucker were both known for their performance and safety... The Ercoupe and the Tucker were both very unusual & recognisable designs: The Tucker for the 3rd 'steerable' headlight, rear engine, 'Pop-Out' windscreen; and the Ercoupe for the anti-stall / anti-spin characteristic, the recognisable empenage , and the first practical use of the nosewheel 'Tricycle' type landing gear... And both companies were at extreme odds with the larger/much more financially (& politically) powerful competitors, because of their unconventional , yet far better designs.... Both companies finally succumbed to the relentless political / financial pressure that their much larger competitors continually provided, because of their unusual-yet superior designs that the larger companies refused to supply to their customers... Yes, Very similar stories indeed....
Having no rudder pedals is not what I would call an aircraft ahead of its time.
In 1947 a New Zealander called Harry Newton, who had flown Wellington and Mosquito Bombers with the Royal Air Force during WW2, went back to his farm in NZ, but, missing his girlfriend, returned to England, to find she had not missed him quite so much and had moved on.
Wanting to get home, he found that he could not fly by airliner for about two years and could only go by ship if he worked his passage as a stoker. At a trade show in Brussels, Belgium he purchased an Ercoupe, s/n 4780, from the agent and flew it home to New Zealand, a journey of some 15.500 nautical miles, which he accomplished in 17 days, (although he spent two days in Malta on the way, so he could have averaged 1000 miles per day).
The aircraft landed at his home town of New Plymouth, and remained, for many years, the smallest aircraft ever to cross the Tasman Sea. It was sold to Auckland Aero Club in 1948
In 1951 it was damaged in an accident at what is now Auckland Airport and was considered beyond economic repair. A Mr Peter Beck spent some 10 years restoring it and it has returned to flight. It was re-purchased by Harry Newton's family and is still flying out of New Plymouth. It is registered as ZQ-AQX and was built as NC94669 being registered as OO-EXC in Belgium.
Incidentally, the official cause of the accident was listed as ''stalled and crashed on landing''!
I have a photo my father took of OO-EXC and owner Harry Newton on Rongotai aerodrome soon after it arrived in New Zealand
Great video. When the footage gets to the Alon, one that was pictured there was N5475E, and that's the one that I got my PPL in during 1968-69. Great little airplanes.
THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL VIDEO, I FIND THE ERCOUPE TO BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LITTLE AIRPLANE!!GOD BLESS!!
Ree
Several things have caused such an increase in aviation costs, that it's no longer even reasonable for the average man... (Or woman).
The Ercoupe was the right plane, at the right time, when a company could build airplanes for anyone, without overbearing regulations of the government, and over-greed of the manufacturer...
4-5 hours of training! You know that the FAA and flight training schools today, would both be squealing over that!
And with minimal training, and basic knowledge of navigation, one could escape the 'surly bonds of Earth,' and travel to locations with ease, cheaply, and safely.
Sure, one can take an Ercoupe, or Aircoupe, and add a bunch of high tech equipment, GPS and all that.
But I thought airplanes were about flying!?
James Lanning E
I bought my first aircraft in 1974 ... a 1946 Ercoupe 415C with rudder pedals, 85hp continental and extended baggage compartment for $3900 ... I loved that plane and would buy another today if the chance ever came up.
I bought one in 1966 for $2200, great airplane and N67M is still flying. Mine was a 1946 'Erco' 415C Aircoupe w/ metal wings and 75HP.
As late as the early '80s I could have bought one for $5000. But being 6'5", I would have had to fly with the canopy open. :)
@@MrWaalkman omg so right! You can't get two adults into a C150 for years now! Merica got fat! Well, tall too, so there's that.
@@MrWaalkman >>> So there IS an advantage to being *5'5"...😝*
@@Allan_aka_RocKITEman From up here, yeah. :) I also can't fit in a Triumph Spitfire either, which is a car that I've always wanted to own.
@@dryan8377 Sorry for the late reply, I just saw your comment.
I flew with a friend in a 152 and that was the most terrified that I have ever been in a plane. Meadow Lake airport, at 6877 feet doesn't lend itself well to under powered aircraft, and we weren't getting much in the way of lift. We were however, quickly running out of runway...
Excellent video, did about 20 hours on an Ercoupe, might buy one in a few years.
Thanks Mr. Abbott for the wonderful video. I learned to fly and soloed in a Mooney Cadet in 1975 and didn't know until watching your fine video that its production was tied to Ercoup. I loved the Cadet. The best part was that I was paying $15/hour wet!
Wow!!! I'm (almost) speechless. Tremendous research about a lesser known craft that still flies in safety today. Way ahead of its time, beautiful in a vintage 1950's sort of way, a classic craft treated poorly by the GA community at large. It really is a designed safety craft that MANY of its ideas should have been incorporated into newer craft over time. Thank you so much for a well covered history of the 'lil Ercoupe- past due recognition for an airplane ahead of its time!
When I was a kid in the fifties and sixties, I wanted to fly desperately and my Dad considered buying an Ercoupe (which until this vid I thought was pronounced Air coupe). I remember getting in the one he was looking at as he too wanted to learn to fly... but ultimately, he declined saying, "he had two boys that one day would want to go to college" which we ultimately did but all these years later I feel a bit guilty he sacrificed what he wanted to do because of my brother and me. I did ultimately learn to fly, have over 2000 hours and IFR, but still desire to try an Ercoupe.
The later versions were produced by a new company named Alon. The plane originally was built by Ercoupe. When Alon bought Ercoupe the name was changed to the Alon Aircoupe with a sliding canopy. Rudder pedals was added, but the hp never changed. Later, Mooney bought out Alon and produced it with a single vertical stabilizer, and I believe a 100 hp engine and called it "The Mooney Cadet." The weight must have increased because it was very under powered. I've flown all three models.
Richard Mourdock What did you get your college degree in?
What a wonderful, wonderful video!! Put together so professionally, that it is a pure joy to watch. Thank you so much for putting this historical gem of a aircraft under such great review. Fred did just as much for the advancement of aircraft and aviation, than anyone in the business. How about the Piper PA-28, need I say more than that?
When I was growing up, and my father ran the airport in Jacksonville NC, I loved that airplane. As a child, and even today as a 64 y.o. old fart.
Thank you very much for this fantastic history of the Ercoupe. Been waiting along time.
I had a Ercoupe in the nineties, along with a Cessna 172, and a 175. The Ercoupe was the most fun, and cheaper on gas, it was also easiest to fly. Wish I could find it. Can't remember the N number expect that it had a H, a 0, a 7, and I think a 4. It left from Arkansas, and went to Texas painted white with a red stripe. I got to talk to Mr. Weick at a Ercoupe fly-in, just south of Russleville, Arkansas. Some called it "The Chicken Ranch Fly-in, because it was at a huge chicken ranch, complete with a Saturday night ho-down and all the fried eggs you could eat for breakfast. He was a very nice and interesting man to talk to, with a remarkable memory.
As a kid, I used to ride my bike to a local airport to buy dope...no, not that kind, the kind you paint on canvas wings and on the rice paper of model planes. This field had a lot of Ercoupes. Some older pilots there scoffed at them and said they were too easy to fly.
which explains why the ercoupes were flying when they hid in their hangars,due to too much wind. Furthermore, no airfield is too challenging for the Ercoupe.
So happy I found this video, my Father was the CFO at Alon in McPherson I have fond memories of being 12 years old and washing the plane. I have 8mm home movies - now digital - of the day they released the 4 seater plus some black and white photos of the 4 seater. That 4 seater was one of the most beautiful airplanes ever made....
Ok... the Ercoupe is one of my favourite aircraft now. :D
HOW MANY DO YOU OWN?
Great video! Thank you so much. My son flew as a Young Eagle with Sid in his Ercoupe. Now we are both taking lessons at the same airport he keeps his Ercoupe . Yes.....I am bragging. Sorry.
I've flown over a dozen Young Eagles, it made me feel special.
Excellent work, Don. My first airplane was N99495, a 415 C/D. Loved it, and learned firsthand how you could, with effort, steer yourself into something that resembled a groundloop in a strong crosswind.
I want of these and I don’t even have my license.
If I had, had the money in 1959 I would have been an Aircoupe owner. I loved the aircraft, but couldn't raise enough money to swing the deal. I still love them. Thanks for this video.
The Ercoupe was the first plane I flew in (as a passenger) when I was 14 years old. It was owned by a friend of my dad, in Havana, an experience that I will always remember, my father as an aviation fanatic, was in love with this little plane. Thank you for putting together this historic documentary.
Wow!! What nostalgia. In 1953, I co-owned on Ercoupe. There were 6 co-owners in our "club". Booking time got to be a major problem, so I sold my share to other 5 for $300.
That was an epic documentary on this plane. Im 54 from South Africa & can't I have ever seen one live. I love its lines :) "SAXSY"
Thank you for all the work on this great documentary . I think people should always choose safety and practicality over looking cool, after all it is your life.
Excellent job! When I was learning to fly at the Bayport Aerodrome on Ling Island, as grass strip, there were probably a half dozen Ercoupes on the field, all of them were parked in a row on one side. It was kind of cool to see them all there, some never flew, others were meticulously maintained some flew once a month. Eventually they all disappeared and now there are none left.
Informative,historical and great documentary.
Thank you, Don, and everyone associated with the Ercoupe. I hope I get to fly one day soon.
My brother John Rogers was a great fan of the ercoup. I can remember flying with him in the late 50's in his 1950 ercoupe. He later sold it but when he found it crashed in an Alaska airfield he recused
and rebuilt it. He made many a modifications to his plane. All were approved by the FAA. One paticular one was adding extra fuel tanks in the wings to give extend range when he lived in Alaska. He want more range because of longer distances that Alaska challenge all aircraft . His wife, a retired FAA inspector Betty still has the plane.
Would that be John Rogers ??? He used to do the annual on my ercoupe. Hell of a good guy.
My first flight, at the age of 14, was in an Ercoupe. In my memoirs, I describe the takeoff thusly:
The transition was magical. One instant we were a high-speed tricycle, rumbling and jouncing across the pasture. The next we were a graceful aluminum bird floating through the air, wings dipping slightly back and forth, nose climbing above the horizon, the rush of air around the canopy accompanied by the constant drumming of the engine. I looked out the right side and watched as the ground sank away under the wing, the fence and power lines at the end of the pasture passing beneath us. I was flying! And I was hooked for life.
Excellent documentary. I have flown in many of Fred's designs (rode with my dad in an Ercoupe as a kid) piloted a Pawnee and pretty much every version of the Cherokee:140/150/160/161/180/235/200 & 201 Arrow, fixed gear Saratoga and Cherokee Six.
My Coupe used to belong to Tom Jones ( no not the singer) who was a good friend of Fred. My logs have personal notes they passed back and forth. Including some design ideas Fred had that didnt make to production. ScareCoupes was the term I always heard of them. I think thats just from the screaming tires can make in a Xwind landing. After 24 years owning one it never gets boring.
I put500 hours onN-3282H and never declined to fly because of winds.
My father had one and I got to fly it frequently. Flew great and I am a big fan. Thanks for the great video.
Great story! This doc represents a lot of research.
i have about 60 hours in an Alon Aircoupe , what a fun and easy airplane to fly
I have about 300 in my Alon A2A. I love flying the thing.
I have several hours in an Ercoupe. A truly unique flying experience. Flying with the windows down is a thrill.
Great documentary. While Syd Cohen is clearly an Ercoupe expert there is an important correction to be made at 18:54. He says full length ailerons improve “lateral” control while (correctly) motioning “roll” with his arms. Roll control is along the longitudinal axis, pitch is along the lateral axis. One way to remember that is the horizontal stringers that link the bulkheads are called “longerons” running along the longitudinal axis. One other little thing, most of us are stepping on the right rudder peddle more because of torque, gyroscopic precession and p-factor than the prop slipstream around the fuselage, IMHO :)
Good points. The video does say to point out mistakes if you see them. I am not a pilot, but I took a few lessons, and recall the point about torque, precession and the rudder.
A truly outstanding video.
Really enjoyed this video production, and it filled in a lot of missing information for me. I was a riveter and (as my engineering studies progressed) later a draftsman for AirCoupe when it was at the Carlsbad, NM airport. That experience opened my eyes to aviation, prompting a lifelong interest and a career at NASA in Houston. Thanks, Mr. Abbott.
I enjoyed this. Thank you! I was born in 1940 and grew up near a private airport, Pearson airport, in my hoimetown of Vancouver, Washington. Seeing the special look of the Ercoupe flying over is one of my tender childhood memories. Thank you again!
Pearson has some historical significance went there for a fly-in once.
Thank you for putting this together and publishing it so many others can see it WoW ... Very informative and I really learned alot .. good job.
A & P mechanic retired Phoenix AZ
Around 15 years ago, there was a fly-in at a small town near me. I drove over to see it. I'm guessing there were around 30 Ercoupes there. The only other plane visible was a bright yellow Piper. Our local paper took a picture of the Piper and published 3 or 4 sentences about the fly-in. If they would have got out of their car and talked to someone or googled, Ercoupe, they could have printed an interesting story. That's sad journalism. I quit subscribing to their paper.
All too typical....
Was the small town near you in Arkansas ?
Privileged to fly one once as a student pilot in Dixon,Illinois
Journalism, and journalists, fucking suck.
Dad flew me around in one of these when I was a kid.
Good times.
I remember him explaining the unique control system.
This brings back good memories...
VERY WELL DONE! EXCELLENT HISTORICAL COMPILATION OF WHICH I LEARNED A TON OF INFORMATION. THE FAA OR EAA HAS A COMPETITION GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR A DESIGN OF AN AIRCRAFT THAT "ANYONE" CAN OPERATE. WELL, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY ERCOUPE!
I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS VIDEO AND THANK YOU FOR POSTING IT!
What a great story !! This has always been the "girl of my dreams" since I first saw one in Flying Magazine back in the 1950's. I never got around to owning one like I'd one day hoped to do. I used to day dream about the adventures I'd have tooling around the country. I was later surprised to hear pilots scoff at "my gal" as being a sissy's plane because it didn't have rudder pedals and steered like a car and you couldn't crab in on landing and etc. I kept my mouth shut because those were things that made sense to me and were a plus, not a minus but I wasn't a pilot yet, so what did I know? Years later I bought a Cessna 150 and went as far as soloing and working on my private ticked (never got it though) but the upkeep, starting a family and job requirements got to be too much and I sold it. The only reason I bought the damned thing was because everyone said "you don't want an Ercoupe that's not a pilot's plane" . Like a dummy I listened to them and have rued the day every since. The Cessna was never "the plane of my dreams". Now at 79 and with failing eyesight I can only drop by the local airport and hope that someone in an Ercoupe will fly in for a few touch and goes and let me dream of what might have been as I WATCH. My advice to any youngster with a love for flying and especially this airplane is if you get the opportunity to own one, don't let any smart ass talk you out of it. Follow your dream.
Not a pilot but was fascinated to learn about this unique aircraft. Thanks.
Thank you for the video. Very interesting information. I forwarded it to couple friends.
Well done! Thank you so much for posting this
Excellent production!
The only airplane that had me second guess every control input I did while flying it, was the Ercoupe.
Have a nice flight!
Just great, thank you!
Used to fly over their abandoned airstrip in Riverdale when based at CGS.
Neat!
Old guy in town where I live has three of these in his shop, one is airworthy.
Very interesting story!!! I did not realise that the plane was touted as un-spinable... And that aluminum became un-obtainable during WW2... This explains the heaviier wood Ercoupes, that apparently were not put into production...The use of several different types and mfgrs. of engines, with opposed & in-line 4 cylinder designs , because of limited availability of small engines and funding. The proposed: 4 place plane and the interesting float planes... One of the most interesting things was the name of the planes being changed from ; Erco to Ercoupe to Aircoupe, and why/when the changes took place... The interview with Fred Weick , was extremely interesting, in how he developed this spin-resistant design... I remember hearing about some of the Ercoupes as having wing-ribs that were placed on a position that were diagnol to the spars on a triangilar shape to save weight, and the split twin vert stabs that improved stability about the verticle axis, without induced yaw from the spiral prop-wash...
... The use of the now standard tricycle landing gear layout to improve ground handling, and the light & strong rear trailing arm struts on the main landing gears... The full- length ailerons and the rudders that were coupled with them , meant the pilots needed only 2 inputs for the primary flight controls; which helped the plane's flight stability and helped the plane to resist spins & stalls... Very interesting planes , that had many innovations, many of which are still being used currently... These planes and the people who developed them, really improved the safety & reliability of the current aircraft being developed & flown... This is a Great program of great planes... Thank You for presenting this very important piece of American Aviation History and Innovation...
So well done, Brings me back to the 70"s when I owned N3843H for ten years. Closing in on 70 now but there may just be one more coupe for me.
Go for it ;)
What a delightful account - great story, thank you
Fantastic video. Thank you very much. God Bless you.
Performed an annual inspection on one at Fort Wayne, Smith Field early 70's. Cool airplane!
Well hello, FlyCaster. I'm sure it was N5474F. Owned by Ran Aviation there at SMD. My dad soloed 74F on Oct 23,1968. I got my PPL in 74F on Nov 10,1968. I'd ride my bicycle 11 miles each way. Would spend a week's after school grocery carry-out wages for an hour lesson with Margaret Ringenberg. Great times!!!
Great story! I first flew this plane In 1948 when I was 8 years old. My first flight. I was forever hooked on aviation and now after 25,000+ hours starting with the Navy and then United airlines have this airplane to thank. JC
What an uplifting story! Thanks
Very interesting. As a kid my dad would take me to the local airport to watch planes take off and land. We live in the Washington DC suburbs. I was always intrigued by the Ercoupe parked there. I thought they were the coolest looking airplanes. He would tell me that his uncle worked at the Erco factory in College Park until he went into the Army. Sadly, my uncle died parachuting into Europe in the war.
Great video sir. Thanks for the history lesson.
Thank You for this great video. I think this is the best "start to finish" documentary on this great aircraft. I hope to be able to restore and/or own one someday soon.
Thank you for posting such an informative video. Can I make a little request: I found it difficult to concentrate on the content as the music is rather loud? down 3db would be a good ratio I expect? Thanks.
I’m ferry flying an aircoupe across Canada right now and I absolutely love it! What a great airplane!
It's possible that you have accidentally misspelled it but I've always pronounced it that way. I don't know of a Bear Cubs born to fly but an aircraft equipped with a steering wheel and no Rudder pedals is to me; an Air Coupe. I did however, mispronounce Bombardier for a long while.
Thanks for this video. I have always loved the design and history. Perhaps I will be a future owner of one. Would be great if somebody made a kitform of an updated model!
after some research, the cabin needs to be much wider. My cessna 140 is 6 inches wider and still cramped.
My dad never told me that his introductory flight and first 5 lessons in April 1948 were in an Ercoupe. I just bought one last week, and wish my dad a former ATP pilot with over 15000 hours could be here to see it. Unfortunately he passed away in 2010. I feel like buying this plane and teaching my son how to fly is a family tradition. God bless!
Are you going to buy one and teach your son how to fly, or have you?
@@leelafarlett4401 I bought one now over a year and a half ago. We are getting close to graduating her from Hangar Queen to Flying Girl. My son has helped me a lot and is looking forward to learning to fly.
With all due respect, if your father never told you his introductory flights were in an Ercoupe, then how did you find this information out? Genuine question. Thanks.
A delightful and informative documentary.
My first "ride" was in a Ercoupe around 1964, hung out at the local airport and was able to get rides from time to time. I still remember that first ride and from then on I was hooked at 12yoa. and have had a lifelong passion for flying. Great story on the Ercoupe.
My 1st was somewhere around 1950. I use to go up with my dad, and anyone else at the local airport. i was 10.
Dad wanted me to buy a coupe! Think someone can turn the aircraft into a L.S.A.! That would be fun.
Thanks very much for an extensive and interesting history. Thumbs up to crush a troll, and I subscribed, too.
Thank you so much Mr Abbott. As an early teen, my first ride in an airplane was in an Ercoupe. As most I thought it was pronounced Air Coupe. This was in the early '70s at spring bank airport west of Calgary. Mr Chapman even let me steer it. Boy let me tell you was I nervous. Been a wing nut ever since.
Well done video. A number of years ago, I put down a deposit on my first airplane purchase...a ‘46 Ercoupe 415C. About 2 weeks before I was to pick it up in Ohio and fly it back to Chicago, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. Obviously the need for all available funds for treatment of her illness necessitated asking for my deposit back, thus cancelling the sale. My wife made a full recovery, and Ill always remember the flight I took in that Ercoupe, which , at the time, convinced me to buy it. As a 2-service veteran (Both Marine Corps AND Navy), Ive been around many interesting aircraft, and as a pilot I have logged time in a dozen or so different planes, but none captured my personal flying interest quite like the Ercoupe, and I still have a Polaroid photo on my desk of the one I almost owned.
Great video! Now I want an Ercoupe! Were any Ercoupes IFR certified? Did anyone ever develop an autopilot?
The Alon Ercoupe made in the 60's had a vacuum pump for the gyros so it could be IFR certified and many were. I think the True Track for 5K could be installed and field approved. Thanks for your comments on the video. Don Abbott
Autopilot would be awesome.
Wow, what a story. I remember the first Ercoupe I saw, it was always parked by itself and I seldom saw it in the air. I thought it was very cool!
I remember first seeing these as a little kid in the 1970's and thinking "Wow, a baby B-24." : )
Great documentary! Thank you so much for the time and effort that went into this production!
Greatly enjoyed this presentation. I've never had opportunity to fly one but my Father loved them.
Wow...wonderful story!
Awesome comprehensive story of this remarkable aircraft👍👍
A great little plane! Back in the late '60s I used to fly one of the later versions built by Mooney! Little bugger would true out around 120 MPH with a 90 HP engine on about 4 gal/hour! Unlike the original, it did have rudder pedals! I dubbed it a "Mexican P-38"! Totally politically incorrect now! Good! I hate PC!
@Nobby Barnes Political correctness is a cancer that destroys from within while creating a sense of euphoria! You haven't brains enough to figure that out! Unlike you, I'm not propagandized by anyone! As for "slack jawed", you wouldn't make a pimple on my butt! So stuff it, idiot!
My first aircraft was a 1946 Ercoupe. I loved it. Sunny Sunday, 90 mph, canopy open and elbow on the frame. Remember one time landing at Battle Creek. Looked over to see two F-15s and two A-10s holding short waiting for me to putt putt in for landing. Bet they used more fuel waiting than I did the whole time I owned it. I went on to an L-17 after that. High performance, retractable, variable pitch...what a difference. Weick was a genius with the ‘coupe design!!
Simplicity really is precious, isn't it?
I flew one once in Sherbrooke, Quebec, I owned a BD-4 at the time and had flown in to Sherbrooke to visit relatives. I parked by the Ercoupe and started talking to the owner. We traded rides. It was great fun but I kept searching for the rudder pedals absent mindedly. By the way, great history video. Really enjoyed it.
I had no idea they were in such a production , 50 planes a day . Kinda like a assembly line car
I find it interesting that private planes were in great demand following the war, in the same way that cars were. And probably a lot of other stuff that was put on hold during the war. My mom's second husband returned from war and got into car sales - and he said he didn't have time in the day to sell all the cars that he could.