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Ercoupe

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SaxMan

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It's been a few years since I last tinkered with airplanes and I found I really missed it. I recently pulled the trigger on a 1945 Ercoupe 415-C project. The plane is current in pieces, but it's all there, less the engine and prop. It's currently sitting in a barn in Emmitsburg, MD, but I'm actively looking for new digs to work on it. I'm not a pilot...yet...but the price was an offer too good to turn down. That's why I've been kind of scarce on the BCF as of late.

I figure for my first adventure into owning and restoring a plane on my own, the Ercoupe was a good choice. It's like the LBC of small planes: It's not fast, but it's fun to fly. Plenty of parts availability, either through various collectors or through Univair, which is like the Moss Motors of aviation. The Ercoupe community is pretty helpful, but not nearly as encouraging as the LBC community...but then again what else is?

As I've told people, this is either going to turn out to be dumbest thing I've done or end of being one of the most brilliant things I've done. We'll see in time which way it goes.
 
That is great news! That a great airplane with quite an interesting history, which started in Maryland. You'll end up with something like this - but much cooler because you'll have done it yourself.

Ercoupe 415-C.jpg


You probably already know that the 415-C qualifies as a Light Sport airplane by the FAA rules. So getting a Sport Pilot license takes fewer hours than a Private Pilot, and you can fly your 415-C during daytime, anywhere you want, once you get cleared to the destination by a CFI.

The 415-C was the a/c I'd planned to fly - but lack of dollars ended that dream.

One suggestion: if you want to fly the plane legally, be sure to have a qualified aircraft technician ("A&P") supervise your restoration. If you do it all alone, you might not be able to get the a/c certified as airworthy by the FAA.

Just a thought.

Anyway - congratulations!
Tom M.
 
congrats and yes you are completely bonkers! I really really like the Ercoupe - please keep us posted on the restoration
 
That is way cool :cool:
Enjoy!
 
It's a very gentle and easy aircraft to fly. Original models had ailerons and rudders coordinated with the yoke so they had no rudder pedals. Sales feature was, that it would fly/drive like a car. :rolleyes2: Most licensed pilots didn't like that feature and it was dropped in later models. Kits even came out to convert to pedals. The manufacturer said it was spin-proof because of that feature, not so! Any aircraft can get into a spin if the conditions are right, problem with the coordinated controls is you can't reverse the rudder to compensate. As Tom said, make sure an AP signs off any work so it can be FAA-certified. Not like bolting a car together.
 
And you thought the Ercoupe was just a two-seater ...

 
Sounds like a fun project! I would suggest that you do your homework as to getting a pilots license and the requirements needed to get the airplane legal to fly and maintain it when finished. If you don't own your own airport, check into what it will cost to rent a hangar or tie down. THes days that can be stupid expensive. Talk with a A&P certified mechanic and learn what you can and can not do. I would also check out the price of an engine. They can be a real eye opener when it comes to cost. As with any project, it is cheaper to buy a flyable airplane that is finished than trying to do it yourself. I understand the up side that comes with building your own, but that does come at a much higher price. I have restored several airplanes and I enjoyed the projects. I also know that you need to do it because you enjoy the work and not as a way to get an airplane at a cheaper cost. Good luck with your project, I hope that it works out well.
 
Look over the whole aircraft for corrosion more importantly the wings. I have seen the main spar have intergranular corrosion so bad it was very costly to repair.
 
Good Luck with it.

I once bought a BD-4 kit off Ebay.

I am not a pilot and didn't ask permission either.

It was an interesting few months around the house, but it turned out ok when I sold it for a profit.
 
Let me get this straight - you bought a plane,but no pilot's license?
What could go wrong?
 
When I was a kid, I remember there was one of those parked at our local airport. Always thought it was a cool looking airplane. Congrats!
 
The seller is a very highly regarded A&P in this area, and he said he'd help me with the paperwork and getting it signed off on. I've known him for about a dozen years, meeting him when I was helping with the TBM Avenger and the Cessna Bobcat projects.

This Ercoupe is an early postwar model -- the 75th one off the line after the war. It spent a lot of time in California and was purportedly once owned by actor William Holden (although I'm in the process of getting all the FAA paperwork to confirm this).

Part of the reason for the acquisition is that a friend of mine and I are trying to establish an EAA Vintage chapter for the Mid Atlantic area. The closest Vintage Chapters to us are in Ohio and North Carolina. I reasoned any self-respecting EAA Chapter, vintage or not, has to have a project, and what better project than an Ercoupe that was "born" in this area (maybe a Fairchild 24 or a PT-19 would make good local candidates, too)?

There's a good chance I'll be doing the restoration at a nice little grass strip in Virginia about 30 miles from my house, and all back roads to get there. So, that gives me an excuse to take the Sprite out on some longer runs, and possibly even display the Sprite if the airfield hosts and open house.
 
We’ll, David, here you go again! Best of luck on your new project.
Larry
By the way, just sold the big Healey
 
advert.jpg

Erica
 
longbridgehealey said:
We’ll, David, here you go again! Best of luck on your new project.
Larry
By the way, just sold the big Healey
Click to expand...
I saw the news on the Big Healey. I wish I had the money when it went on the market. It's still one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen. Where did it end up?
 
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