This 1946 ERCO 415-C Ercoupe Is an Easy to Fly ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

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

The Ercoupe 415 two-seater came about in response to a design competition organized by the Bureau of Air Commerce during the 1930s in an effort to develop an airplane that was safer than others in the fleet. Fred Weick, the engineer and aircraft designer who later would co-design Piper’s PA-25 agricultural and PA-28 personal and business aircraft, came up with the Ercoupe.

The airplane used a two-control system that linked the rudders, aileron, and steerable nose wheel through the control wheel that also operated the elevator. This system eliminated rudder pedals. The control wheel operated a lot like a steering wheel in a car, and the control setup largely eliminated stalls, spins, and ground loops—three phenomena that often resulted in accidents. People often refer to the aircraft as being stall- and spin-proof.

While the Ercoupe’s flying characteristics made it safer than many other aircraft, pilots for a time still had to receive spin training—for which they would have to use a different airplane. Others missed the ability to slip the airplane into short fields by crossing the controls—something that could not be done in the Ercoupe. Today there are many Ercoupes still flying and they have a strong following that appreciates their gentle, forgiving handling in flight and on the ground.

This Ercoupe has 1,009 hours on the airframe and 54 hours on its Continental C85 engine since overhaul. The panel includes a Garmin GTR 225 com radio, GTX 327 transponder, and UAvionix SkyBeacon ADS-B.

Pilots looking for an easy-flying, safe, vintage aircraft that fits modern light-sport criteria and still makes a splash at fly-ins should consider this 1946 ERCO 415-C Ercoupe, which is available for $28,500 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.