8 Vol. 9 / No. 12/ December/January 2017/18 Global Aviator
Despite its lack of commercial
success, the ERCO Ercoupe is a
unique design in more than one
way. It does not deserve to be
forgotten as many other designs
from its era have been. Fortunately a
small but loyal owners group keeps
the memory alive of the airplane
that was originally designed to
be as easy to fly as driving a car.
Rob Maatman is one of those
loyal owners. He acquired his
Ercoupe in 2006. It was a true
hangar queen, behind on its AD's
and with several corrosion issues
that needed fixing. The engine
was due for replacement. The only
nearby available engine had some
issues of its own. A broken fuel
pump had severely damaged the
old flame hardened crankshaft.
Because it was flame hardened,
it was feared the part would
not survive an overhaul. Find a
new one took more than a year
before one was found on a shelve
somewhere in the Midwest USA.
It was only one example of
the many challenges Rob faced
and why it took almost ten years
for Rob's mechanics to bring
the airplane back to life. But
the result speaks for itself.
Next to the internal mechanics
and the power plant the exterior
also got its deserved share of TLC.
The airframe was then completed
with a US-Navy colorscheme and
a real pin-up girl on the nose.
The qcolorsheme was chosen
mostly because Rob just likes the
classic blue-yellow-red combination.Basic instruments in a basic airplane. There is only the steering
wheel, no rudder pedals!Pilots flying for fun