How expensive is it to maintain a coupe, relative to other aircraft?
There are a few models that are LSA eligible, and I have been tossing
the idea of buying one to train in.

Can't speak to the current prices, but for sheer fun on a budget, the
Coupe is a great little airplane. I wouldn't recommend buying one for
initial flight training however.

Agree 100% with Dudley -- this bird is not a primary trainer.

The Ercoupe is incredibly easy to fly -- it was designed by Fred Weick (the
guy who later designed the Cherokee) to be "Everyman's Plane", the plane
that anyone can fly with minimal training after they come back from WWII.

To achieve this he made it as automotive as possible, with the yoke working
as a steering wheel on the ground, and the rudder pedals eliminated
completely. (The rudders are interconnected with the ailerons, and work
remarkably well at keeping the ball centered.)

Much of his design innovations have become standard in all planes (an
electric starter, all-metal construction, etc.) and were quite modern for
the time -- but much of them did NOT become standard, meaning that learning
to fly in an Ercoupe is pretty much a developmental dead-end. You'll never
know how to fly a plane with rudder pedals if you train in one that only has
a brake pedal on the floor!

Thus, when my daughter starts training next year, she'll be learning in the
FBO's old 150s. I recommend the same for you -- and THEN buy yourself a
little deuce 'coupe...

:-)

(We flew Sweetie to an "ice cream social" fly-in at Capitol Airport in
Milwaukee, WI today. It took 2.1 hours to get there, 2.4 back -- she's not
speed demon -- but only took a grand total of 18 gallons of unleaded car gas
to do it! And, of course, everyone on the ramp wanted to know what it was,
which is kinda fun...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
Ercoupe N94856
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"