Warbird Information Exchange

The "new" toy at work, and my project over the last few months has been this 1946 Ercoupe. It's our entry into the area of Light Sport flight training.
I don't know what I think about the stars and bars, but most people seem to like them.

One thing's for sure though, it's a blast to fly.

Oh yeah....

Made you look. Flame on!

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

well, if you had WWII markings on it, you could be correct. the first jato take off was done by a coupe

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

Isn't there an Ercoupe in Alaska or Washington which was impressed or part of the "home guard" during
WW2 which IS a Warbird?

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Here's another!

Cool airplane, and great pics.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

And an in the air shot too.

Nice Pants!

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"Hindsight is usually 20% off!"

I always loved the Ercoupe!
I even got the Hallmark Christmas ornament this year of the Ercoupe!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Military designation YO-55. Thats where Lady O-2 Pilot got her start.

YO-55, first shot is the overall, second zooms in on the serial number in that photograph. Post Field, Fort Sill, OK.





Regards,

Andy

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WWII Airborne Demonstration Team
www.WWIIADT.org

So I read the s/n to be 41-18875? N#-NC28655? Soon to be, at that time, the worlds fastest Ercoupe?

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Indeed! One good looking Ercoupe Curtis!

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Thanks for all of the kind words.

I thought for sure I'd be on the receiving end of more crap about the post-war stars and bars. I did unsuccessfully lobby for a while to remove the decals and apply some more classic Ercoupe pin stripes. Now I'm just trying to keep the boss from getting another decal for the top of the right wing. He thinks it will even out the look of it. He doesn't want to get another decal for the bottom of the right wing however, because, "no one will see it down there any way."

As for the wheel pants, I could use a little help in that area. If anyone knows where we could get a nose wheel fairing for the beefier fork arrangement, as opposed to the original single sided unit (If that makes any sense. What can I say, I'm tired.) it would be greatly appreciated.

It's funny to see that even at least one of the two or three actual military YO-55 Ercoupes had a civilian style paint job, especially since so many Ercoupes currently sport military style schemes. A far greater number than were ever military birds.

I've still got plenty of work to do with this aircraft. Like I said we are using it for the LSA licence. To that end, we will be adding rudder pedals in order to make it a more comprehensive training aircraft. Currently we have left them out because so many people want to try flying it without them. It should prove to be an interesting conversion however when we get to it. We are also going to change the carburetor to a unit with an accelerator pump, plus a few other items. If there is interest I can post updates in the Manit. Hangar. Until then there is plenty of polishing to keep up on. I want the little bugger to gleam like a diamond.


P.S. Any one interested in flying it, should call Pearson Air at the Olympia Airport, Olympia WA. (Shameless promotion )

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Curtis, that's a beautiful lil itty bitty. Y'all did a great job

This quote is a bit of a misnomer kinda thang...LOL

I had a tail dragger endorsement (gawd, I can use rudder pedals ) and had flown larger planes, some actually warbird types, prior to taking over the sponsorship and flying of the CAF's Lil Yellow Rose YO-55. Probably not flown by others for any length time because, after being dubbed by an airboss as "the CAF's shortest pilot" I was the only one who could fly it and comfortably close the canopy if needed....LOL

Wonderful fun little plane that did kinda draw a crowd at most shows. I hope y'all enjoy yours, Curtis

ps.....if I can find pics, I will post later

It looks great. I don't mind the national insignia at all. I do like it better than the "Navy" one though. Pre war styled rudder stripes, pseudo D-day stripes and the post war national insignia is certainly... unique.

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

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