Cool video. After I got my pilots license the Ercoupe was one of the planes that I was always looking at as they're often one of the cheaper private aircraft available.
Hey Max, thanks for the trip down memory lane. A friend in college got one of those. Never had a chance to go flying with him before he sold it but it must have great leg room since he was 6'5".
I remember an old work colleague talking about those. He flew one for a while in the 50s or 60s. I didn't know Mooney gave it a single tail or that the twin had rudders eventually. Great video Max. Maybe I need to add JATO bottle's to my lawnmower, more power you know 😄 On a similar note, other than the Spirit of St Louis, I've never built a civilian aircraft model. The other day I picked up a 1/48 Scale Cessna 150. I will paint it up like the Cessna 152 I flew out of Crestview (CVW) Air years ago. I showed my wife what a stall was in that aircraft. That's when I learned she couldn't stand the first drop on a roller coaster. The arm rest and my right thigh still have indentations from her grasp as she gasped. Note to self: don't do that anymore!
My 1961 F1A Aircoupe was made by Forney, a tool company that made the planes for their salesmen. The changed the name to Aircoupe much to the dismay of Ercoupe purists. My dad was a pilot for over 35 years flying everything from a Piper Cub to a DC-3 and his first four lessons were in an Ercoupe. He learned about the restriction on pilots of Ercoupe so he switched to a Cub. Ercoupe owners used to only fly early in the morning or late in the afternoon so as to avoid taunts of the "real pilots". My aircoupe came with rudder pedals from the factory. It's a real airplane that you steer with your feet on the ground.
That RATO launch with the Ercoupe was by the developers of JATO at GALCIT early in WWII. Jack Parsons was effectively the inventor of the modern solid propellent rocket motor. Today GALCIT is known as JPL.
Another interesting/educational video. The reference to the different companies that have sold/bought the Ercoupe operation reminds me about the many model kit companies buying/selling old/new plastic kit molds, as mentioned in your other videos.
Lindberg made a 1/48th scale plastic model of the Ercoupe. I wonder if the molds are still around? Several years ago I watched an Ercoupe fly over on a windy day. He was travelling directly into the wind and was barely moving.
I own a 415c. Love it. But I’ve also flown many other types all over the USA. My guess is the folks that claim it is not a real airplane do not know how to fly, or have a PPL themselves. As far as the old plastic kit, I am a professional builder and have built SIX of these Pegasus kits. They are extremely barebones but the only kit made in plastic. They come up on EBay, I’ve paid from $20 to $50.
1.Why or how was an Ercoupe chosen to test RATO? Did the experimenters walk up to a guy at the local airport at random and say, "hey, can we borrow your plane for a couple of hours?" 2. I had no idea that Mooney tried to market it. Nice piece.
I believe they wanted to test it on a small scale and the Ercoupe was both available and a low enough priority aircraft to risk. Also it was capable of handling both the load and speed while being heavy enough to stay controllable and have a measurable change in take off roll.
Tim McCoy wife's account. I have flown the 'Coupe! Would own one .. Gave a guy his private pilot. In his coupe. It was later Alon version. They were safe as long as you knew the limits. BUT you don't Fly it like a cub or a C150. High sink rate - manhole cover sink rate was the biggest deal. Fun fact: Japan Airlines trained the 747 crew on crosswinds with Ercoupes. To give them the concept of landing in a crab.
That first cross-wind landing in a 'coupe is a bit daunting. But once you've experienced it, it's not that much of an issue. Not that I would go out looking for one to land in. But it's nice to know it can be done if have too.
Nice work, Max. I would have never associated the Ercoupe with a rocket assisted take off! Not sure if that was some sort of crazy flying club bar bet! Also, Fred Wieck co-designed the Piper Cherokee with John Thorp who has a his own list of designs including the P2V Neptune.
The Ercoupe has its following, but it it really an airplane? Many pilots think not, as you drive them, not fly them. I’ve been to private airports where they’re banned, and drivers of visiting Ercoupes are admonished to leave, and “come back in a real airplane only after you’ve learned to fly. I knew Fred, and once asked him why the Ercoupe and Cherokee designs are so damn ugly. Once his wife’s peals of laughter died down, he explained that he designed them to meet the specs he was given, and aesthetics weren’t one of the specs. He agreed they were ugly, resulting in more peals of spousal laughter...they get no respect, but do they deserve any?
I have a simple philosophy, it flies and it can kill you, ergo it is a real aircraft. One could argue that the C-150/152 are so easy to fly that they do not really train you for anything else (I have heard that more than once). But if you fly the Ercoupe you need to know your limits.
In 2011 I earned my sport-pilot certificate in an Ercoupe. A 1946 ‘C’ model, N3174H. As with any aircraft, if flown the way it was intended it’s as safe as any other aircraft out there. Certainly not the quickest airplane in the sky - and the useful load is nothing to rave about - but it's still a joy to fly. I have a friend who got his private-pilot license in a ‘coupe in the late 90’s. His license had the “2-control” restriction attached to it. Which caused some issues when he later transitioned to a Piper Tri-Pacer. I don’t know if the rules have changed, or it's because my license is in the light-sport category, but it does not have that restriction.
Cool video. After I got my pilots license the Ercoupe was one of the planes that I was always looking at as they're often one of the cheaper private aircraft available.
Hey Max, thanks for the trip down memory lane. A friend in college got one of those. Never had a chance to go flying with him before he sold it but it must have great leg room since he was 6'5".
I remember an old work colleague talking about those. He flew one for a while in the 50s or 60s. I didn't know Mooney gave it a single tail or that the twin had rudders eventually. Great video Max. Maybe I need to add JATO bottle's to my lawnmower, more power you know 😄 On a similar note, other than the Spirit of St Louis, I've never built a civilian aircraft model. The other day I picked up a 1/48 Scale Cessna 150. I will paint it up like the Cessna 152 I flew out of Crestview (CVW) Air years ago. I showed my wife what a stall was in that aircraft. That's when I learned she couldn't stand the first drop on a roller coaster. The arm rest and my right thigh still have indentations from her grasp as she gasped. Note to self: don't do that anymore!
Greetings from Clay County, Missouri!
Thanks for the memories, Max!
See you tomorrow! 4 thumbs up! \m/ \m/
what a great little documentary. would be cool if this was a regular series on really neat GA planes.
Thanks for another good video! Please do more of these on general aviation aircraft.
Great video Max!!!👍👍👍
Yet another aircraft I have now just learned about! Thanks so much! Keep 'em coming!
My 1961 F1A Aircoupe was made by Forney, a tool company that made the planes for their salesmen. The changed the name to Aircoupe much to the dismay of Ercoupe purists. My dad was a pilot for over 35 years flying everything from a Piper Cub to a DC-3 and his first four lessons were in an Ercoupe. He learned about the restriction on pilots of Ercoupe so he switched to a Cub. Ercoupe owners used to only fly early in the morning or late in the afternoon so as to avoid taunts of the "real pilots". My aircoupe came with rudder pedals from the factory. It's a real airplane that you steer with your feet on the ground.
That RATO launch with the Ercoupe was by the developers of JATO at GALCIT early in WWII. Jack Parsons was effectively the inventor of the modern solid propellent rocket motor. Today GALCIT is known as JPL.
Im really enjoying these aeronautical docs. Keep it up max.
Another interesting/educational video. The reference to the different companies that have sold/bought the Ercoupe operation reminds me about the many model kit companies buying/selling old/new plastic kit molds, as mentioned in your other videos.
good observation
Thanks!
Very interesting
I wasn't aware the Mooney M10 was an updated Ercoupe/Aircoupe.
I bet that RATO takeoff was quite a ride in that buggy.
WEEEEEE!!! (Official report 😜).
My parents meet in Washington DC after we ii, their 1st date was upholstering a. Ercoupe
Lindberg made a 1/48th scale plastic model of the Ercoupe. I wonder if the molds are still around? Several years ago I watched an Ercoupe fly over on a windy day. He was travelling directly into the wind and was barely moving.
If you see the Linberg Ercoupe...BUY IT!
I own a 415c. Love it. But I’ve also flown many other types all over the USA. My guess is the folks that claim it is not a real airplane do not know how to fly, or have a PPL themselves. As far as the old plastic kit, I am a professional builder and have built SIX of these Pegasus kits. They are extremely barebones but the only kit made in plastic. They come up on EBay, I’ve paid from $20 to $50.
Good heavens, I can only imagine 65 horsepower trying to drag floats out of the water! Must have needed a very long lake to get into the air. ;^)
it was no stol plane
Awesome video! Thank you for that history lesson. About how much would one want to save for acquiring this great plane?
1.Why or how was an Ercoupe chosen to test RATO? Did the experimenters walk up to a guy at the local airport at random and say, "hey, can we borrow your plane for a couple of hours?" 2. I had no idea that Mooney tried to market it. Nice piece.
I believe they wanted to test it on a small scale and the Ercoupe was both available and a low enough priority aircraft to risk. Also it was capable of handling both the load and speed while being heavy enough to stay controllable and have a measurable change in take off roll.
Tim McCoy wife's account.
I have flown the 'Coupe! Would own one .. Gave a guy his private pilot. In his coupe.
It was later Alon version. They were safe as long as you knew the limits. BUT you don't
Fly it like a cub or a C150. High sink rate - manhole cover sink rate was the biggest deal. Fun fact: Japan Airlines trained the 747 crew on crosswinds with Ercoupes.
To give them the concept of landing in a crab.
😁
That first cross-wind landing in a 'coupe is a bit daunting. But once you've experienced it, it's not that much of an issue. Not that I would go out looking for one to land in. But it's nice to know it can be done if have too.
Wait, this isn’t a video about models. I’m not sure I know how to process this video. But Max did use the word “model” throughout, do I guess I’m OK👍
Stay calm and model on!
Nice work, Max. I would have never associated the Ercoupe with a rocket assisted take off! Not sure if that was some sort of crazy flying club bar bet! Also, Fred Wieck co-designed the Piper Cherokee with John Thorp who has a his own list of designs including the P2V Neptune.
I’ve never heard of this civilian aircraft.
ua-cam.com/video/QDsMTVu2Yn8/v-deo.html
I've heard it called the Poor Man's P-38.
The Ercoupe has its following, but it it really an airplane? Many pilots think not, as you drive them, not fly them. I’ve been to private airports where they’re banned, and drivers of visiting Ercoupes are admonished to leave, and “come back in a real airplane only after you’ve learned to fly.
I knew Fred, and once asked him why the Ercoupe and Cherokee designs are so damn ugly. Once his wife’s peals of laughter died down, he explained that he designed them to meet the specs he was given, and aesthetics weren’t one of the specs. He agreed they were ugly, resulting in more peals of spousal laughter...they get no respect, but do they deserve any?
Ercoupes are beautiful aircraft as long as they are maintained.
I have a simple philosophy, it flies and it can kill you, ergo it is a real aircraft. One could argue that the C-150/152 are so easy to fly that they do not really train you for anything else (I have heard that more than once). But if you fly the Ercoupe you need to know your limits.
@@maxsmodels what do you mean by know your limits? Aircraft limits, or different limits?
In 2011 I earned my sport-pilot certificate in an Ercoupe. A 1946 ‘C’ model, N3174H. As with any aircraft, if flown the way it was intended it’s as safe as any other aircraft out there. Certainly not the quickest airplane in the sky - and the useful load is nothing to rave about - but it's still a joy to fly.
I have a friend who got his private-pilot license in a ‘coupe in the late 90’s. His license had the “2-control” restriction attached to it. Which caused some issues when he later transitioned to a Piper Tri-Pacer. I don’t know if the rules have changed, or it's because my license is in the light-sport category, but it does not have that restriction.
The pilot's limits AND the aircraft's limits...either one will kill you when exceeded.