June 22, 2012

Mt. Vernon, Illinois: Airport hosts convention - The Ercoupe Owners of America National Convention will last through the weekend

MT. VERNON — — Thursday was the first day of the Ercoupe Owners of America National Convention, which will last through the the weekend, hosted by the Mt. Vernon Outland Airport. 

David Winters of Clarksville, Tenn., has owned his plane since 2004. He said he used to fly a Citation jet, which is much bigger than the Ercoupe, which seats two.

The planes were designed pre World War II and about 6,000 of them were produced. Winters said the planes were once quite popular and were even sold at Macy’s during the first years of production in the mid 1940’s.

The plane was designed for non-professional pilots, with cutting-edge safety features that don’t allow is to stall out. One unique feature of the Ercoupe is the lack of rudder pedals — the plane is flown entirely using a control wheel instead and like driving a car.

Winters stripped his plane, which is named Frolic, of paint and removed the upholstery to make it lighter and said it only weighs about 860 pounds. His plane gets about 17 miles to the gallon and is relatively easy to learn to fly, he added.

Frolic is a work in progress — Winters has been working on her and replacing parts since he purchased the plane.

“When I first started flying, every time I took off, something fell off,” Winters said. “I don’t think I will ever be finished [restoring the plane].”

Read more here:   http://register-news.com

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