This Ercoupe is an update of two earlier versions. This one has a metal finish and a working VC. It is being released as a complete airplane, so all previous versions are obsolete and should be deleted from your computer.
ABOUT THE VC
The VC panel is based on several Ercoupe photographs. Panels range from nearly original to completely custom. The gauges are a mixture of those that came with J. L. Stubbs panel and standard FS2002 gauges.
All gauges are functional. Use shift-4 to pop up a panel containing master, avionics, ignition, and light switches. Use this panel for starting, so there is no need to switch to the 2D panel. Pan toward the left side and you will see a trim lever, which is not functional, but the Cessna trim indicator has been placed next to it. If you pan downward you will see a single pedal. This is a brake pedal, also non functional. There are no rudder pedals in an Ercoupe. The yoke, throttle, and mixture are animated. The carb heat is non functional.
Use shift-2 to bring up the radio stack and shift-3 to bring up the GPS.
You can show/hide the pilot with the nav light switch. This switch also opens the canopy. The canopy is not animated. It splits at the top and slides down into the sides of the cockpit, but I could not obtain a satisfactory movement so it is either on or off.
The panel and eyepoint are set up for a .75 zoom, but use whatever you like. The gauges are not as clear as I would like. Several changes to the panel shape and texture bitmap did not make an improvement, so they will have to stay as they are until I learn more. Likewise, I am unable to add night lighting at this time.
If at anytime the tach stops working, first check to see that the nav light switch is on. If that does not fix it, flip the master switch off and back on.
FLYING THE ERCOUPE
Everything needed for takeoff, climb, cruise, and landing is covered in the Checklists. Refer to the Notes for directions on how to change views, bring up panels, and use the VC.
It is recommended that autorudder be selected under FS aircraft realism. Ercoupes do not have rudder pedals. However, a set of rudder pedals (or use keystrokes) is recommended for steering. In the real Ercoupe, the nose wheel is connected to the yoke so you steer like a car, but I have no idea how this could be simulated.
An Ercoupe has no flaps. One procedure suggests losing altitude by pulling the yoke all the way back and stalling the plane in, breaking the stall at least 200 ft above ground. That will not work with this model, but if you follow the checklist and practice a little, you should be able to land it ok by regulating the throttle.
Available information indicates that performance should be similar to a C150 (I would think not as good), so this plane is based on a 150 model. The speeds are about right, but the rate of climb is probably too high, as it was in the original air file.
CREDITS
As before, credit goes to J. L. Stubbs for the original panel, Aaron Swindle for the C152 sounds, and Carenado for their permission to use and modify the C152 air and cfg files.
This plane is distributed as freeware.
John L. Woodward
October 2002
jlwoodward@worldnet.att.net
