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|  |
| Super Coupe | |
|---|---|
| File:Heusdens Super coupe. The Super Coupe | |
| General information | |
| Type | personal aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | M.A.Heusdens |
| Status | currently in flying status |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | September 2002 |
| Developed from | ERCO Ercoupe |
The Heusdens Super Coupe is a Erco Ercoupe that was modified during the 1990s by M.A.Heusdens in an attempt to interest other ERCO owners to upgrade their Ercoupes. The aircraft did not receive sufficient interest for other aircraft to be modified because of cost, and only the single conversion was produced.
History
editThe aircraft before the project began was a very basic ERCO Ercoupe 415-C.
Starting in late 1987 the first modification was a new fuel system. The old (24 gal) fuel system consisted of two wing tanks and a cowl tank behind the instrument panel. The cowl tank would not allow for modern instruments and avionics to be installed in the instrument panel and also was a fire hazard in a crash. The new system removed the 6-gallon cowl tank. New wing tanks were designed and built. The capacity of the new wing fuel tanks was increased from the original 9 gallons each to 15 gallons each. The outer wing panels had to be modified to make room for the new longer fuel tanks. A standby electric fuel pump had to be added to the system because the gravity feed cowl tank was removed. This Ercoupe was the first aircraft fitted with this new (30 gal) fuel system designed and built by M. Heusdens with help from a talented friend. This modification would later be given a FAA Supplemental Type Certificate[1].
The Continental 85 HP. engine and mount was removed. A new engine mount was fabricated for the Lycoming O-235 Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 HP normally and 112 HP for takeoff engine, the mount and engine were installed. In order to install the Lycoming engine the nose gear strut assembly needed extensive modification along with the air intake box. A completely new engine baffle set had to be produced and installed. A completely new exhaust system was designed similar to an Alon type Ercoupe, produced and installed. A Sensenich Propeller was installed over a McCauley propeller for efficiency. The Sensenich propeller was approved for the 0-235 series engine but there was no previous approval for this propeller on the 0-235-C2C model engine. This required an approval for this engine/propeller combination.
A completely redesigned cowl was designed and fabricated out of fiberglass. The old cowl had many aluminum parts and required propeller removal to remove the nose bowl. The new cowl is a modern design that is a two piece design (top and bottom). The new cowl can be removed in minutes without propeller removal allowing full access to the engine for maintenance.
A new windshield was designed and installed. The new windshield had a redesigned slope; the center lower part of the windshield was moved forward 6.5 inches. With the filler neck of the cowl tank gone the new windshield could be installed. The engine, propeller, cowling, and windshield were installed under a FAA one time Supplemental Type Certificate.[2]
Other modifications to the aircraft at this time were,
The Super Coupe was converted from a two axis control aircraft to a full three axis control aircraft. This modification is the more modern one. The early modification kit for ERCO's just add rudder pedals to the older Ercoupes. These rudder pedals did not control the nose wheel steering. Nose wheel steering was still controlled by the control yoke. In this modification the newer system used in the Forney F1A and Alon Ercoupes was installed. This system controlled the nose wheel with the rudder pedals. With these rudder pedals installed a hand brake was installed to replace the foot brake that was removed.
The aircraft was converted to a model 415-D to increase the gross weight to 1400 lbs.
A later model Ercoupe 415-E elevator (commonly called the split elevator) and associated stall cushion warning spring parts were installed to improve the landing flair after the D conversion.
A later model Forney F1 baggage compartment was added for more capacity.
The aircraft was only fitted from the factory with visual flight rules(VFR) instruments. Installation of a new instrument panel was done. The new panel was fitted with a complete instrument flight rules flying package of instruments. The avionics package was also up-date to a basic Instrument flying package. The aircraft is now IFR certified.
The outer wing panels were metalized in the 1950's but were reskinned due to the poor condition of the skins. From the factory the outer wing panels were covered in fabric.
There were many other smaller modifications completed to go along with the major changes. This group of modifications were approved by FAA form 337 Major Repair & Alteration.[3]
After all the modifications were completed the mountain of paperwork was completed. The paperwork was sent to the local FAA office for 337s, FAA engineering for the STC paperwork. It took two years to complete the paperwork for the FAA. Then it took the FAA two plus years to give approval for the DER inspection. After the DER inspection the aircraft was put in the experimental category and test flights were completed. After the FAA test flights were completed, all modifications were approved, and the aircraft was put back in the certified category. [4] [5][6]
Even with the aircrafts greatly increased performance (Rate of climb more than doubled to 1,100 ft/min, cruise speed increased from 105 mph to 120 mph and full throttle speed to 125 mph) only the one example was completed as of 2025.
It was hoped that other Erco owners would want to up-grade their aircraft. There was interest but the cost for all the modifications was cost prohibitive.
The completed aircraft won awards from the Ercoupe owners club National Fly-in 2004 [7] and at EAA Oshkosh 2015 [8]
Specifications ( Super Coupe)
editData from Federal Aviation Administration,<ref>"Aircraft Specification No. A-718" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-19.Data supplied by M.A. Heusdens
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
- Wing area: 142.6 sq ft (13.25 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,400 lb (635 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235-C2C , 108 hp (81 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 126 mph (203 km/h, 109 kn)
- Cruise speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn)
- Stall speed: 48 mph (77 km/h, 42 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 144 mph (232 km/h, 125 kn)
- Range: 300 mi (482 km, 261 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,100 ft/min (5.6 m/s)
- Power/mass: hp/lb ()
See also
editrelated
editReferences
edit- ↑ FAA STC SA1484GL that is no longer current
- ↑ "Dynamic Regulatory System".
- ↑ https://www.faa.gov/forms/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/185675
- ↑ Data supplied by M.A. Heusdens
- ↑ https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/aw_cert#process
- ↑ https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=n2877H
- ↑
- ↑ "2015 Classic Category (Sept. 1945 through 1955) Awards | EAA Vintage Aircraft Association".
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