This 1946 ERCO Ercoupe Is an Especially Easy-to-Fly ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Designed during the 1930s, the Ercoupe was ahead of its time in bringing enhanced safety to aviation.

1946 ERCO 415-C Ercoupe. [Courtesy: Jennifer Hembree]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The article features a 1946 ERCO 415-C Ercoupe as "Today's Top Pick," highlighting its historical significance as a pioneer in easy-to-fly aircraft.
  • Key to its design is the absence of rudder pedals, utilizing coupled rudders and ailerons for simplified, stall-proof controls, making it an ancestor to modern simplified flight systems.
  • This specific Ercoupe boasts modern avionics (including ADS-B Out), a 90 hp engine, and is offered for $31,500, appealing to pilots seeking an economical and charming piece of aviation history.
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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1946 ERCO 415-C Ercoupe.

Lately we have read about the growing use of simplified flight controls in aviation from the developing eVTOL category to personal aircraft that increasingly assist pilots in efficiently maintaining control. The ERCO Ercoupe is an ancestor of these modern systems, having pioneered the easy-to-fly-aircraft concept as early as the 1930s.

The Ercoupe is well-known among pilots as the airplane without rudder pedals. For coordinated turns, it uses coupled rudders and ailerons through a traditional control wheel. Limited control surface movements and the Ercoupe’s overall design were intended to make it a safe, stall-proof aircraft. Many of its fans say it performs as advertised and is lots of fun to fly.

The airplane’s generous wing, twin vertical fins, and tricycle landing gear (that stood out in an era of taildraggers) all seem to point to stability and ease of use. Other features, including a low wing and large bubble-style canopy, give the pilot and passenger better-than-average visibility.

This 1946 Ercoupe has 1,784 hours on the airframe, 267 hours on its 90 hp Continental C90-12F engine since overhaul, and 245 hours on its McCauley two-blade propeller since new.

The panel includes a Flightline FL-760 Comm radio, Narco glideslope Garmin GPS 396, GTX 320A transponder, Sigtronics Sport 200 panel mount two-place intercom, airspeed and vertical speed indicators, turn coordinator, directional indicator, altimeter, RPM, Oil pressure, EGT, air temperature, carburetor temperature, amp and voltage gauges.

Additional equipment includes a uAvionics TailBeacon ADS-B Out unit, 12-volt auxiliary adapter, landing and taxi lights, and bubble-style windshield.

Pilots looking for an easy-to-fly piece of aviation history that is economical, has timeless charm, and will be welcome at any vintage fly-in, should consider this 1946 ERCO Ercoupe, which is available for $31,500 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

FLYING Staff

FLYING Magazine is a one-stop resource for everything aviation, including news, training, aircraft, gear, careers, photos, videos, and more.

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