Here is the new (to me) Ercoupe in its “home” for a while. GED is fairly close to our home and is far enough inland that salt air should not be a problem. I like Ocean City Airport and used to keep my former ‘Coupe in a hangar there – but there is now a very long waiting list for hangars, and I didn’t want to tie down on a ramp so close to the Atlantic Ocean. Here at, Delaware Coastal Airport the airplane is 15 miles from the ocean and will stay a lot cleaner and not be subject to the corrosive salt air.
Got in two hours of airtime on (finally) a great day.
Great afternoon flying in the ‘Coupe yesterday. Flew for two hours – but my wife wanted to stay home and catch up with “stuff” – so I was solo. Beautiful sky with broken clouds at 6000. I flew from the mouth of Delaware Bay at Cape Henlopen, Lewes, Delaware south to Assateague Island, home of the wild horses, and back. I made the “obligatory” circle around our community after sending a brief text below to “look up.” So, she was outside and grabbed this photo – of a tiny spec of an airplane against an awesome sky.
This was the first decently “cool” day to fly since I got my Flight Review in late June. The temperature was in the low 80s, instead of the mid to high 90s that we’ve had for the last several weeks.
Ercoupe beneath the clouds.
Yeah, I was up at 1700 feet. The local banner-tow guys cruise north along the beaches of Ocean City, Maryland and Fenwick Island, Delaware at 500 or below but then head back to their base near our community and crank up their altitude a bit. Our home is exactly two miles inland from the beach and I wanted to give them plenty of space. Although I did not see a banner plane all afternoon.
Here is a gathering of Ercoupe information, repair and maintenance links.
This writer needs to make the “disclaimer” that he is not a mechanic and is providing these links as a convenience only. Should you find reference to anything that prompts you to make changes to, or perform maintenance on, your airplane, please realize it is your responsibility to consult “proper and legal” sources of information before you do so.
Ercoupe Owners Club
Ercoupe Owners Club:www.ercoupe.org – A club, in the sense of minimal dues in exchange for a wealth of information about all things Ercoupe. The website, while a bit “clunky,” has resources for the casual reader and invaluable information behind the member door. Much of the information contained in archives of monthly newsletters is impossible to find elsewhere. IMHO, Every Ercoupe member should be a member. If you have an interest in the Ercoupe airplane, you might consider joining the club to have access to a wealth of information.
Ercoupers Repair Pages:www.Ercoupe.info – a collection of a variety of restoration projects have been documented – often with detailed instructions and photographs.
Used Ercoupe Parts:www.UsedErcoupeParts.com – At Precision Services, Inc., Vernon Gregory has set up a new site for Ercoupe parts. With several dozen ‘Coupes and many years experience in the “Ercoupe Parts” business, Vernon just may be responsible for keeping more ‘Coupes flying than any other individual.
Reliving a nice flight in our former Ercoupe (from the archives)
by Bill ~ June 9th, 2010
Every once in a while, no matter where you live, you’ve just got to catch one of those “perfect” times to fly. For me one of those flights was last evening in my Ercoupe. But it surely didn’t seem to start out that way.
I got to the airport about 4:00 in the afternoon and the wind was “howling.” When I opened the hangar doors part way it sounded like a werewolf from a B-grade horror movie had taken up residence. Seriously! I spent about an hour tinkering, cleaning up the cockpit and doing a bit of polishing. Then I fired up and headed to the fueling area. After filling the tanks (took 10.1 of 100LL – lovin’ my ‘Coupe), I ended up talking to another pilot for about 20 minutes. After sumping the tanks (gotta watch that fresh fuel) I climbed aboard Ercoupe 67Hotel for a bit of crosswind practice – but noted that the wind had died down a good bit – the windsock was no longer standing straight out.
The ol’ Continental fired up within one revolution (good ol’ engine) and we were ready to taxi to a clear area for a thorough run-up. Engine check completed, I headed for, what was currently, the active runway – grass and right into the wind. I took off and upon reaching pattern altitude I decided I need to go for a sight-seeing flight – it was GORGEOUS, and it was SMOOTH. CAVU, Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited, Severe Clear – all those good pilot phrases were pulling me toward the Susquehanna River Valley, which is always a picturesque cruise.
Ercoupe 67H with Garmin GPS III navigation device.
The photo above has the Susquehanna River to the left of the ASI. The “river” can also be seen on the navigation screen of the Garmin GPS III Pilot (in the center). The roadway, zig-zagging off into the distance, is Interstate 95 heading esat after crossing the Susquehanna River Bridge. The town of Perryville is just beyond the Ercoupe’s nose (just out of site. The picture quality (iPhone through the windscreen) does not do justice to the beauty of the evening. The air was cool and perfectly smooth.
The flight was a delight, but my original mission did not materialize. I had intended to practice crosswind landings. However, when I got back to the airport, after my wonderfully distracting flight, the wind was gone. I did shoot three landings in a very gentle breeze but by the time I finished the windsock was hanging straight down like a wet dishrag. I am NOT complaining, however, because the change in mission resulted in an absolutely wonderful evening of flying. I logged an hour and a half in the Ercoupe (and likely burned seven or eight gallons). WooHoo!
