Pin Up Ercoupe

[hirschr]

What do you do when a family friend asks to use your airplane for a photoshoot project? You say yes I think they nailed the pin up theme! I told her the ole girl looks great, and the model did good too...

pinup coupe1.jpg (103.59 KiB) Viewed 6274 times

pinup coupe2.jpg (88.69 KiB) Viewed 6274 times

pinup coupe3.jpg (81.09 KiB) Viewed 6274 times

[hirschr]

A few more pics:

pinup coupe4.jpg (171.43 KiB) Viewed 6273 times

pinup coupe5.jpg (97.94 KiB) Viewed 6273 times

pinup coupe6.jpg (83.3 KiB) Viewed 6273 times

[hirschr]

There was also considerable discussion on fabric wings, high heeled shoes, and where you can and can't put any weight...

[FastEddieB]

Very, very cool!

Definitely have a 1950's feel!

[drseti]

Great looking bird! (Nice airplane, too.)

[SportPilot]

.......

[drseti]

The one I fly has two 8-gal wing tanks and a 6 gal header tank. I flight plan for 6 GPH, so you have 3 hrs with a 30 min reserve. (But the minute the cork starts to come down in the header tank, it's time to think about landing!)

[drseti]

Airspeed? If you feel you have to ask about airspeed, you shouldn't be flying an Ercoupe!

OK, serious answer: 100 MPH max (that's about 87 knots)

[drseti]

Oh, important correction on the fuel. Those 8 gallon main tanks only have about 6.5 usable each. So knock a half hour off the times I gave you. I should have said 2.5 hours plus reserve.

[hirschr]

I love that airplane. What is the fuel capacity and burn rate? What airspeed do you flight plan?

This one has two 9 gallon wing tanks that feed a 6 gallon header tank. I use 95 mph as cruise for flight planning, it burns about 5 gph in my experience.

[SportPilot]

.......

[FastEddieB]

Yesterday I mentioned my flight in that Ercoupe to a neighbor with extensive flying experience.

He said he had been offered a ride in one, but refused it.

Anyone want to guess why?

[MrMorden]

Yesterday I mentioned my flight in that Ercoupe to a neighbor with extensive flying experience.

He said he had been offered a ride in one, but refused it.

Anyone want to guess why?

Spar carry-through corrosion is common on them. You'd want to know the Ercoupe you got into was corrosion free before taking the ride.

[hirschr]

Some Ercoupes do have issues with intergrannular corrosion in the spar caps (both in the center section and the outer wing spars). But that is a known issue addressed by a couple of ADs. Statistically speaky I'd say "common" is a bit of an overstatement, although it is a concern.

If I'd have to guess - it's the header tank. Some folks are just not comfortable with 6 gallons of fuel practically in their lap.

[MrMorden]

Some Ercoupes do have issues with intergrannular corrosion in the spar caps (both in the center section and the outer wing spars). But that is a known issue addressed by a couple of ADs. Statistically speaky I'd say "common" is a bit of an overstatement, although it is a concern.

If I'd have to guess - it's the header tank. Some folks are just not comfortable with 6 gallons of fuel practically in their lap.

Fair enough. "Common-er" than for some types is probably more correct. Of course, they are 60 years old, I think they held up rather well.

When I was researching Ercoupes when deciding on an airplane to buy I read some about the issue. Of course every airplane type has issues, and most of them are over-blown.