This 1947 ERCO 415-D Ercoupe Is a Charming, Nearly Foolproof Aircraft ForSale’ Top Pick

1947 ERCO 415-D Ercoupe [Courtesy: Tyrone Reed]

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 an 1947 ERCO 415-D Ercoupe.

People often say they would consider flight training if only flying an airplane was easier—more like driving a car. This has been a perennial theme since the early days of general aviation.

Many designers have sought to maximize stability, simplify controls, and limit overall performance in an effort to produce airplanes that nearly fly themselves as pilots “drive” them through the air. Historically the result has been quite a few easy-to-fly aircraft but only one that won an award for being stall-proof and spin-proof: the Ercoupe.

In fact the award went to Fred Weick, the renowned aviator and designer who developed the Ercoupe with controls that allowed pilots to fly without inadvertently stalling and entering a spin. A succession of companies built several thousand Ercoupes from the 1930s through the ’60s, and the innovative machine maintains a devoted following. If you regularly attend vintage fly-ins you probably have seen several Ercoupes.

Modern manufacturers continue to build aircraft with features intended to make them easier and safer to fly, often through automation and other technological advances. Pilots are also likely to debate endlessly about the Ercoupe’s spin-proof claims. Many Ercoupe’s fans, however, feel Weick got it absolutely right way back in the 1930s.

This 1947 Ercoupe has 2,318 hours on the airframe and 509 hours on its Continental C-85-12-F engine. The VFR panel includes basic flight and engine instruments. The aircraft’s paint and interior were refurbished in 1970.

Pilots who are interested in owning a historically significant antique aircraft from the early days of GA or who simply want to get airborne as easily and inexpensively as possible, should consider this 1947 ERCO 415-D Ercoupe, which is available for $18,500 on AircraftForSale.

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