ERCO Ercoupe

$9,295 light aircraft as of 1941 - Designed to be the safest airplane at the time

Overview

ERCO United States ICAO: ERCO 1940–1969 Active $9,200 (1941)

The ERCO Ercoupe was designed by Fred Weick and initially manufactured by Engineering and Research Corporation as a low-wing monoplane before the Second World War. A few more manufacturers pressed on with the production following the war. It performed its maiden flight in 1937 and was produced from 1940 until 1969. A total of 5,685 units were built.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Continental C75-12
Engine type
Piston
Power
75 hp · 56 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
2
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
20 ft 9 in  ·  6.32 m
Tail height
5 ft 11 in  ·  1.80 m
Fuselage diameter
3 ft 3 in  ·  1.00 m
Wing span
30 ft 0 in  ·  9.14 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
1,250 lb  ·  550 kg
Max landing weight
1,250 lb  ·  550 kg
Max payload
500 lb  ·  250 kg
Fuel capacity
20 gal · 100 L · 100 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
96 kt  ·  110 mph  ·  178 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
42 kt  ·  48 mph  ·  78 km/h
Range
261 nm  ·  300 mi  ·  480 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
13,000 ft  ·  4,000 m
Rate of climb
550 ft/min  ·  3 m/s
Takeoff distance
950 ft  ·  290 m
Landing distance
1,020 ft  ·  310 m
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Erco Ercoupe ‘N94606’

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Operational Context

During the 1930s, Fred Weick, an aeronautical engineer of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) designed an aircraft designated as W1. It was derived from the 1931 Stout Skycar light aircraft, with fabric covering, a parasol wing, a tricycle undercarriage, and a pusher configuration.

Weick became a part of the Engineering Research Company (ERCO) and modified his design to a low-wing aircraft with a tractor configuration. In October 1937, the Ercoupe 310 with a fully cowled engine took to the air for the first time. It was later designated as the Ercoupe. Aircraft production came after instantly. 112 Ercoupes were built before production ended due to the Second World War. Several aircraft manufacturers continued to produce the aircraft after the war. A total of 5,685 units were built.

The ERCO Ercoupe is a light aircraft with an external length of 6.32 meters, an external height of 1.67 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1 meter. It has a tail height of 1.8 meters and a wheelbase of 1.7 meters. It is a low wing monoplane with a wingspan of 9.14 meters and a wing area of 13.25 square meters. The maximum takeoff weight is 572 kg, the maximum payload is 233 kg, and the fuel tank capacity is 24 US gal. The aircraft has a takeoff and landing distance of 290 meters and 310 meters, respectively.

The Ercoupe is powered by a single Continental C75-12 engine. It is a four-cylinder air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine that produces a maximum thrust of 75 hp and drives a two-bladed variable-pitch propeller. The Ercoupe has a maximum speed of 96 knots and a cruise speed of 83 knots. The stall speed is 42 knots and the never exceed speed is 125 knots. It has a travel range of 260 nautical miles. The aircraft can fly up to 13,000 feet and can climb at a rate of 550 feet per minute.