So three (of our original six) members are continuing down the road to
finding an old, LSA-compliant airplane. The other three dropped out
because they didn't like the notion of a "family membership" that would
allow multiple pilots on a single club membership. (Not surprisingly, those
were the three single or single-pilot family folks!)

The three remaining partners already own larger aircraft, and have similar
goals:

1. We want something cheap(er) and more fun to fly
2. We want something our kids/spouses can afford to fly
3. We want an LSA in case we lose our medicals.
4. We like grass-roots aviation. No glass panels or IFR -- just low, slow,
and fun.

One of our original members was an Ercoupe fanatic, which got us looking in
that direction. After exploring those old birds, we all found them to
be...cool. Compared to many "legacy LSAs" (I.E.: Taylorcraft, Champs,
etc.) the Ercoupe is more modern, with tricycle gear and metal
construction -- while at the same time (when compared to modern aircraft) it
is quaint and refreshingly simple.

So, we're bringing one into the shop today, to have a closer look-see. (One
of the partners is my A&P, a guy with 45 years of wrenching experience.)
Anyone care to weigh in on the Ercoupe? Here are the particulars:

- 1946 Model 416-C
- 85 HP
- 400 SMOH
- Out of annual for 1 year (the owner has another plane, and a very busy
work schedule; he's sort of lost interest in the plane)
- Flown 30 hours since 2000
- Sat for 15 years prior to 2000 (owned by current owner's uncle)
- All-metal wings (all ADs complied with)
- New upholstery/interior
- Luggage compartment enlargement STC
- New yokes
- New shock donuts
- New tires
- Many new instruments/new panel
- Garmin 295 comes with plane

The radios are...junk. For all intents and purposes, we're considering the
radios to be non-existent. There is a good, newly installed intercom.

Current owner says he's got $28K invested. He's talking $21K. We're
thinking (pending inspection) maybe it's worth $18K.

Any Ercoupe experts out there? Whuddya think?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"