Ercoupe and Pilot Size

[MD11Pilot]

My brother is 6 foot and maybe an inch and weighs about 175/180. He is getting close to hanging it up and has a 172 that he would probably sell and buy something very cheap, like an Ercoupe etc. I know there is no way even a funeral director could get me into one and I I have never sat in one but with someone my brothers size, would he fit?
And NO, there is not one near him to test.

 

[frfly172]

I would want to sit in one,rather than rely on suggestions from the group.they have been appreciating lately ,although still a relatively cheap buy.

 

[MD11Pilot]

I would want to sit in one,rather than rely on suggestions from the group.they have been appreciating lately ,although still a relatively cheap buy.

Thanks sir. I told him the same.

 

[Piperonca]

My brother is 6 foot and maybe an inch and weighs about 175/180. He is getting close to hanging it up and has a 172 that he would probably sell and buy something very cheap, like an Ercoupe etc. I know there is no way even a funeral director could get me into one and I I have never sat in one but with someone my brothers size, would he fit?
And NO, there is not one near him to test.

Those were my dimensions as a high school kid and I fit comfortably beside a similarly sized owner on several pleasant flights in his Ercoupe. Only problem he liked to keep the side windows down and fly low level sight-seeing over the countryside.

 

[GeorgeC]

@Beachy

 

[WDD]

Why would a Ercoupe be that much easier to fly than a Skyhawk? Or is it cost of ownership? Something else?

 

[FormerHangie]

My brother is 6 foot and maybe an inch and weighs about 175/180. He is getting close to hanging it up and has a 172 that he would probably sell and buy something very cheap, like an Ercoupe etc. I know there is no way even a funeral director could get me into one and I I have never sat in one but with someone my brothers size, would he fit?
And NO, there is not one near him to test.

My father owned one, he was 6' 2" and 190 pounds. He never mentioned having problems getting into it. How long ago was this? It was based at KORD.

 

[farmrjohn]

I'm 6' and similar weight with a long torso and fit OK. You might also inquire on the Ercoupe Owners Club, specific forums, or FB groups for more opinions. You could also ask there for "test fits" since there are 'coupes across the country. I'd be surprised if there isn't one local to your brother's location.

 

[farmrjohn]

p.s. before I bought mine I did a registration search and a blind mailing to the nearby listed addresses asking for a "test fit". That was successful.

 

[ateamer]

I’m a six foot, 215 pound weightlifter and fit in an Ercoupe with plenty of room. Your brother should be quite comfortable in it.

 

[donjohnston]

It's really impossible to say for height as there are some people who are of the same height but have shorter or longer trunks. For example, I'm 6'5". I have a friend who is about 5'10" or 5'11". But when seated on the same surface, we are the same height. It's a fun party trick.

 

[bonefishpete]

How would a Ercoup be cheaper than a 172 to maintain? Parts availability would seem a problem along with it being so old.

 

[X3 Skier]

5’11” 195. Fit just fine in my Ercoupe as well as my 6’2 190 Co-Owner and when we both flew together.

 

[Gilbert Buettner]

Why would a Ercoupe be that much easier to fly than a Skyhawk? Or is it cost of ownership? Something else?

No rudder pedals. No ability to slip, you just land in a crab. Steer like driving a car.

 

[WDD]

I guess I’m just skeptical that a Skyhawk is more to handle than a Ercoupe. Especially for one who has multiple years in a Skyhawk.

Never flown one, so I’m just guessing. Others who have flown both can comment better.

 

[Fearless Tower]

My brother is 6 foot and maybe an inch and weighs about 175/180. He is getting close to hanging it up and has a 172 that he would probably sell and buy something very cheap, like an Ercoupe etc. I know there is no way even a funeral director could get me into one and I I have never sat in one but with someone my brothers size, would he fit?
And NO, there is not one near him to test.

I'm 5'11" and about 225 lbs. I fit just fine in both early Ercoupes and later Alon Aircoupes. Back in my ferry pilot days there was a period where I was getting all the calls to move Ercoupes for some reason.

I found they are actually kind of fun airplanes to fly.

I wouldn't have wanted to take anyone bigger than a small child with me though...

 

[Fearless Tower]

I guess I’m just skeptical that a Skyhawk is more to handle than a Ercoupe. Especially for one who has multiple years in a Skyhawk.

Never flown one, so I’m just guessing. Others who have flown both can comment better.

Ercoupe is a really easy and forgiving airplane to fly. You touch down in a crab and the nose will swing over and align with the runway.

 

[X3 Skier]

I guess I’m just skeptical that a Skyhawk is more to handle than a Ercoupe. Especially for one who has multiple years in a Skyhawk.

Never flown one, so I’m just guessing. Others who have flown both can comment better.

First time I flew one, I pressed the only pedal on the floor in a turn. It is the brake

Only drawback is no slipping if you’re high on approach but since it sinks like a brick power off, no big deal. I do love crosswind landings in a crab just like a B-52.

 

[Daleandee]

Only drawback is no slipping if you’re high on approach but since it sinks like a brick power off, no big deal.

Or as my first instructor would say, "glides like a grand piano."

 

[Chrisgoesflying]

I owned one for two years. I'm the same height and weight or close to it (a little heavier). I fit just fine even with a passenger. Wasn't comfortable and my back was killing me after flights of more than 2 hours but other than that it was perfectly fine. One of the previous owners of that Ercoupe was a pro football player. 6-6 and 250 lbs. He fit as well. Had to keep the canopy open and sat in the middle of the bench but made it work. The guy I sold the Ercoupe to was also super tall, probably 6-4 but skinny. He made it work as well. Looked funny and I can't imagine it was comfy but he liked the plane.

 

[pfarber]

I did MX on one for a while and I'm not sure if there was extra cushions or the seat was just not set properly but at 6'1" north of 225 my head was about 2 inches above the windshield and while I could close the canopy wearing a headset would not work. This EC did have rudder pedals so I think that really cuts into the leg room. No pedals give you many more inches of leg room to 'scoot' down a bit.

Also I considered it a single person A/C at my size.

1000% sit in one first.

 

[Gilbert Buettner]

I guess I’m just skeptical that a Skyhawk is more to handle than a Ercoupe. Especially for one who has multiple years in a Skyhawk.

Never flown one, so I’m just guessing. Others who have flown both can comment better.

The other difference is trailing-link landing gear and a much higher demonstrated crosswind component.

 

[ateamer]

I guess I’m just skeptical that a Skyhawk is more to handle than a Ercoupe. Especially for one who has multiple years in a Skyhawk.

Never flown one, so I’m just guessing. Others who have flown both can comment better.

I’ve gotten both. A 172 isn’t harder to fly. They’re both as simple as it gets.

 

[Daleandee]

Another feature of my Clarity Aloft headset is that I have more room in my cozy cockpit to not bump my head on the canopy. That trick would work in an Ercoupe also ...

 

[farmrjohn]

I’ve gotten both. A 172 isn’t harder to fly. They’re both as simple as it gets.

Not quite, the 'coupes don't have flaps

 

[MD11Pilot]

Thanks for the replies. As to the reason he is considering this...money. 172 is worth a lot more and he wants to keep flying and he won't insure it for more than liability.

 

[X3 Skier]

Not quite, the 'coupes don't have flaps

and most Ercoupes don't have rudder pedals

 

[WDD]

TANGENT: When I see the word “Ercoupe” my mind wants to read it as “EuroCoupe” - as in perhaps ann old post war French airplane. Think of the missed opportunity if it was. Open cockpit, cup holder for an espresso, baguette holder, extra large ash tray.

 

[Shepherd]

First time I flew one, I pressed the only pedal on the floor in a turn. It is the brake

Only drawback is no slipping if you’re high on approach but since it sinks like a brick power off, no big deal. I do love crosswind landings in a crab just like a B-52.

Just pull back on the wheel, go nose high, and rock the wings back and forth about 30 degrees. She will drop like a rock. Level it out and proceed as normal. Or as normal as an Ercoupe ever gets.
They are great fun to fly.

 

[Beachy]

Not quite, the 'coupes don't have flaps

Not needed. Once I chop the power, my 'Coupe glides like a baby grand piano. I usually carry a tad bit of power into the flare.

Going back to the original question: I am 5'8" and 200# - no problem. So, I'm no where near 6" - but gotta figure, that with no rudder pedals, there is extra leg room.

 

[WDD]

Thanks for the replies. As to the reason he is considering this...money. 172 is worth a lot more and he wants to keep flying and he won't insure it for more than liability.

All the comments about the Ercoupe aside, IMHO I’d say keep the Skyhawk. Easy to fly, and in the end he will be money ahead.

 

[Gilbert Buettner]

All the comments about the Ercoupe aside, IMHO I’d say keep the Skyhawk. Easy to fly, and in the end he will be money ahead.

My current student bought his Ercoupe for less than 10K. He carries liability only and says if he lost the airplane, it would not ruin him.

 

[WDD]

Another way to look at it.

The person in question already owns the Skyhawk.

If he crashes the Skyhawk, he parts ways with it. If he looses the Ercoupe, he parts ways with it. Projecting here, but in either case I'd say he's not going to replace.

The unspoken assumption is that he's going to crash a plane. The odds are very low.

It doesn't sound like he's financially stretched / barely able to now afford to fly. Rather, he's just trying to manage assets?

Therefore the suggestion to play the very good odds that he'll not crash, and just make things simple by keeping the Skyhawk. Or better yet, just buy hull insurance on the Skyhawk.

 

[Todd82]

Why would a Ercoupe be that much easier to fly than a Skyhawk? Or is it cost of ownership? Something else?

For what it's worth, with equal hull values I was quoted significantly higher insurance on an Ercoupe vs a C172, so the actuaries don't agree that they're easier to fly.

Of course most airworthy 172's are way higher value than even the best Ercoupes.

 

[ateamer]

For what it's worth, with equal hull values I was quoted significantly higher insurance on an Ercoupe vs a C172, so the actuaries don't agree that they're easier to fly.

Of course most airworthy 172's are way higher value than even the best Ercoupes.

Just surmising here, but it could have to do with fleet size and availability of replacement parts.