Briefing: Budget Buy

Others built the airframe under different names. It was called the “spin-proof” airplane with “no footwork” because half of all made had no rudder pedals. After ERCO stopped production, the aircraft was built into the 1960s as the Aircoupe by Alon. Mooney based its Model 10 Cadet on the Ercoupe. Most of the Ercoupes on the market today were built from 1946 to 1948, although the airplane first flew prior to World War II. There are 1,000 still left on the FAA registry, of which some may be flown as Light Sport aircraft. “There were two models that were Light Sport compliant—the 415C and the 415CD,” said Larry Snyder, executive director of the Ercoupe Owners Club.

THE REAL WORLD

Skip Carden was the founder of the Ercoupe Owners Club and personally knew Ercoupe designer Fred E. Wieck. He estimates that you can make the hamburger hop or build hours for $40 an hour, not including an engine overhaul fund. The Ercoupe first came out with a 75-horsepower engine but most have been converted to 85 horsepower. Some use the 100-horsepower Continental O-200. A few owners have even boosted the power to 135 or 150 horsepower, but fly their aircraft in the Experimental category. Carden calls it “a sweet-flying airplane that is easy to pick up,” even if you haven’t flown it for six months. Don’t worry about crosswinds, because the trailing link gear takes the shock out of landing in a crab. Parts are not a problem, Carden said—you can get most parts from Univair Aircraft Corp. For the best examples, he has seen prices all the way up to $39,000, especially if the aircraft qualifies as an LSA. As with any aircraft, be sure to look at engine time and past damage. Not all past damage was recorded, so you may need to check for wrinkled skin and popped rivets. Prepurchase inspections are especially important for older airplanes, Carden said.

Email [email protected]

Whom to contact
Ercoupe Owners Club, P.O. Box 220, Pleasant Grove, Arkansas; 800-376-0418; e-mail [email protected].

Vref value
Vref, the AOPA partner offering aircraft value estimates, suggests a base value for the Ercoupe of $18,600 for a 1946 model and $22,500 for a 1967 model.

Recent advertised prices
Listed in Trade-A-Plane at the time this was written were four Ercoupes, including three 1946 models and one 1948 model, ranging in price from $18,900 to $29,900. Barnstormers.com had seven Ercoupes ranging from $16,000 to $35,000.

Insurance costs
AOPA Insurance Services estimates that an $18,600 to $22,500 Ercoupe flown by a low-time pilot will cost from $1,140 to $1,189 per year to insure. An agent said that is the high end: Get just 29 hours in an Ercoupe and the rate drops below $1,000.

How many in the fleet?
AIRPAC PlaneBase shows an FAA-registered fleet of 987 Ercoupes. There are 200 that were built by others.

Financing
AOPA Finance estimates $355 per month for a $22,500 loan for five years at 6.9 percent with $4,500 down. For an $18,600 loan, you would pay $294 a month for five years at 6.9 percent with a down payment of $3,720.

Airworthiness directives
A wing inspection AD has been out for years. Can be expensive.

Biggest plus
Fun.

Biggest minus
Slow.

Things to watch out for
If you want your Ercoupe to qualify as an LSA, make sure modifications have not increased the weight past 1,320 pounds.

What else to consider
Piper Tri-Pacer, Cessna 150