Some Ercoupe History:
The Ercoupe was designed between 1936 and 1940, with the first flight of the prototype in 1937. Before WW2, 112 were built and approximately 5,000 were made immediately after the war. About 400 more were built between 1958 and 1969.
The original name was derived from the name of the company, ERCO, which stood for Engineering and Research Corporation. When later companies manufactured the plane, it was called the Aircoupe.
Designed by Fred Weick and a small team, the Ercoupe was the first plane to incorporate much of the original research that Weick performed as the assistant chief of the NACA aerodynamics division.
These new features include the inability to be held in a spin, the tricycle landing gear to improve landing and take-off safety, the wholly cowled engine, and a control system in which the rudders are linked to the ailerons to simplify controlling the airplane. All these features were invented by Fred Weick and his team.
Fred Weick's design goals for this aircraft were simplicity of control and safety. He built in great visibility and ground handling. For safety, the elevator deflection of 13 degrees made stalls nearly impossible. Turning the control wheel operated nose wheel steering, ailerons and proportional rudder for coordinated turns.
In February 1946, Fred Weick received the Fawcett Aviation Award for the greatest contribution to the scientific advancement of private flying.
Forney Aircoupes were made from 1958-1959, Alon made planes from 1965-1967, Mooney made the A-2-A (Alon style) Cadet in 1968 and the Mooney M-1.0 Cadet (with a "Mooney" tail) was made from 1969-1970.
It was created to give the average Joe and easy airplane to fly.
Amen, Dash. And that's why I've always wanted one. It's the closest thing I've seen to a plane you can get in and drive like a car.
A thing of beauty it is.