Ercoupe Takeoffs Are Optional – Flying an LSA Ercoupe 415-C

Ercoupe Checks – Ercoupe Personal Bank Checks are now available direct from the manufacturer. Here they are:

These are, obviously, based on pictures of one particular Ercoupe. However, other than color scheme, these are representative of the Ercoupe (Aircoupe, Alon, Mooney M10) fleet that still remains airworthy and actually flying today. The Ercoupe featured on these checks was manufactured in Riverdale, Maryland, in August of 1946. It still takes to the skies several times every month. These Ercoupe Checks start at only $12.99 a box for singles (duplicates are a bit higher).

There are also matching Ercoupe Address Labels available for only a few extra dollars:

Note that these are also representative of the Aircoupe and Alon versions of the original Ercoupe. There might, however, be slight variations observable, especially with the canopy mounting/sliding arrangement of the Alon. These are the only personal checks available (that we know of) with images of our favorite antique airplane.

For those of you with a small (or large) business we know you may have a need for business checks. One of the best places to shop on line for business checking account items is at the Business Checks Store. That site is affiliated with and presents products from one of the premiere checks printing companies – and offers a sweet discount coupon to help you save money. While the expense of check printing is not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, saving any amount of time and money is a help to the bottom line.

Note that we mention the Mooney M-10 above. The Mooney variation still resembles an Ercoupe for the first half of the production run. Then they removed the “twin-tail” and replaced it with the traditional look of the Mooney “reverse” vertical stabilizer (and, some say, ruined the handling of a fine performing aircraft).

We’re going to begin a photo gallery here at Takeoffs Are Optional. There is an intro page in the menu at the top. At least I hope it stays at the top – we’re also about to change the “theme” (appearance) of this site. I want to include more photos and resources.

If you would like to “show off” your Ercoupe – no matter what model – I would certainly like to explore the best way in which to do this – at zero cost to anyone. If interested, please leave a “comment” below.

Every once in a while, no matter where you live, you’ve just got to catch one of those “perfect” times to fly. For me one of those flights was last evening in my Ercoupe. But it surely didn’t seem to start out that way.

I got to the airport about 4:00 in the afternoon and the wind was “howling.” When I opened the hangar doors part way it sounded like a werewolf from a B-grade horror movie had taken up residence. Seriously! I spent about an hour tinkering, cleaning up the cockpit and doing a bit of polishing. Then I fired up and headed to the fueling area. After filling the tanks (took 10.1 of 100LL – lovin’ my ‘Coupe), I ended up talking to another pilot for about 20 minutes. After sumping the tanks (gotta watch that fresh fuel) I climbed aboard Ercoupe 67Hotel for a bit of crosswind practice – but noted that the wind had died down a good bit – the wind sock was no longer standing straight out.

The ol’ Continental fired up within one revolution (good ol’ engine) and we were ready to taxi to a clear area for a thorough run-up. Engine check completed, I headed for, what was currently, the active runway – grass and right into the wind. I took off and upon reaching pattern altitude I decided I need to go for a sight-seeing flight – it was GORGEOUS and it was SMOOTH. CAVU, Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited, Severe Clear – all those good pilot phrases were pulling me toward the Susquehanna River Valley, which is always a picturesque cruise.

The photo above has the Susquehanna River to the left of the ASI. The “river” can also be seen on the navigation screen of the Garmin GPS III Pilot (in the center). The roadway, zig-zagging off into the distance, is Interstate 95 heading esat after crossing the Susquehanna River Bridge. The town of Perryville is just beyond the Ercoupe’s nose (just out of site. The picture quality (iPhone through the windscreen) does not do justice to the beauty of the evening. The air was cool and perfectly smooth.

The flight was a delight but my original mission did not materialize. I had intended to practice crosswind landings. However, when I got back to the airport, after my wonderfully distracting flight, the wind was gone. I did shoot three landings in a very gentle breeze but by the time I finished the windsock was hanging straithg down like a wet dishrag. I am NOT complaining, however, because the change in mission resulted in an absolutely wonderful evening of flying. I logged an hour and a half in the Ercoupe (and likely burned seven of eight gallons). WooHoo!