"Jay Honeck" wrote in
newskYWj.110933$TT4.34154@attbi_s22:

So three (of our original six) members are continuing down the road to
finding an old, LSA-compliant airplane. The other three dropped out
because they didn't like the notion of a "family membership" that
would allow multiple pilots on a single club membership. (Not
surprisingly, those were the three single or single-pilot family
folks!)

The three remaining partners already own larger aircraft, and have
similar goals:

1. We want something cheap(er) and more fun to fly
2. We want something our kids/spouses can afford to fly
3. We want an LSA in case we lose our medicals.
4. We like grass-roots aviation. No glass panels or IFR -- just low,
slow, and fun.

One of our original members was an Ercoupe fanatic, which got us
looking in that direction. After exploring those old birds, we all
found them to be...cool. Compared to many "legacy LSAs" (I.E.:
Taylorcraft, Champs, etc.) the Ercoupe is more modern, with tricycle
gear and metal construction -- while at the same time (when compared
to modern aircraft) it is quaint and refreshingly simple.

So, we're bringing one into the shop today, to have a closer look-see.
(One of the partners is my A&P, a guy with 45 years of wrenching
experience.) Anyone care to weigh in on the Ercoupe? Here are the
particulars:

- 1946 Model 416-C
- 85 HP
- 400 SMOH
- Out of annual for 1 year (the owner has another plane, and a very
busy work schedule; he's sort of lost interest in the plane)
- Flown 30 hours since 2000
- Sat for 15 years prior to 2000 (owned by current owner's uncle)
- All-metal wings (all ADs complied with)
- New upholstery/interior
- Luggage compartment enlargement STC
- New yokes
- New shock donuts
- New tires
- Many new instruments/new panel
- Garmin 295 comes with plane

The radios are...junk. For all intents and purposes, we're
considering the radios to be non-existent. There is a good, newly
installed intercom.

Current owner says he's got $28K invested. He's talking $21K. We're
thinking (pending inspection) maybe it's worth $18K.

Any Ercoupe experts out there? Whuddya think?

Another antique is going to be rendered environmentally friendly.


Bertie