Have a look at the various aircraft types parked on the ramp of a busy general aviation airport, and the mission of each quickly becomes evident. Lancairs and Mooneys utilize their sleek lines to achieve speed and efficiency. Well-worn flight school aircraft spend their days enduring all the various lessons learned by the steady stream of students. Stately business jets stand at the ready to whisk their VIPs off to faraway destinations. And should you happen to spot an Ercoupe standing apart from the crowd with its distinctive retro design and open canopy, it becomes clear that it was designed with fun flying in mind.
But fun is only part of the Ercoupe’s formula. When it was designed in the 1930s, it introduced a number of safety features that were, at the time, as futuristic as the Buck Rogers comics of the era. Even today, the Ercoupe enjoys an enthusiastic following.
