Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Contents | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Ercoupe Owners Club Collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections through the cooperation of Skip Carden, Executive Director of the Ercoupe Owners Club, and Carl D. Hall, Bowling Green State University, School of Art, beginning in September of 1980, with continuing additions. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection. Duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. The collection was processed and register prepared by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts in April 1993.

Agency History

The airplane known as the Aircoupe was designed by aeronautical engineer Fred Weick (later responsible for the Piper Cherokee), in the late 1930's as the first non-spinnable aircraft, intended for the non-professional pilot. It was first manufactured as the Ercoupe by the Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) from 1940 to 1951, although the model 415-C suspended production in early 1941. Production resumed after the War, during which time over 5000 planes were produced, around 4000 in 1946 alone. However, in the economic slump following World War II the corporation failed.

In April of 1955 the Forney Corporation of Ft. Collins, Colorado acquired the manufacturing rights, producing different versions of the plane, now known as the Forney Aircoupe, between 1956 and the late 1950's, when production ceased.

Briefly, between 1960 and 1963 the rights to the Aircoupe aircraft were held by the Air Products Company of the City of Carlsbad, New Mexico. The city hoped to establish aircraft manufacture as a local industry, but only a few planes were ever produced.

Beginning in late 1963 the rights and equipment were secured by the Alon Corporation of McPherson, Kansas, which updated and improved the basic model. After merging with the Mooney Aircraft Corporation of Kerrville, Texas in 1968 two twin-tail models of the Aircoupe were introduced. However, the late 1960's were another time of economic decline, and after 1970 production by Mooney was suspended.

The continuing enthusiasm for the Ercoupe is evident in the operations of the Ercoupe Owners Club, active since the 1960's. With a membership covering the United States, including some members from Canada and other countries, the Club provides technical support and social activities, including an annual Fly-In, at which the business of the group is conducted.

Scope and Content

The Ercoupe Owners Club collection consists of over 6 linear feet of correspondence, technical manuals, blueprints, articles, news clippings, Club newsletters, photographs, and miscellaneous audio/visual items, spanning the history of the Ercoupe/Aircoupe plane from the late 1930's to the present. Fred Weick, the designer of the Ercoupe, is represented by articles, the 1985 draft transcripts from tapes of his reminiscences, and two videotape recordings.

While the collection has little to illustrate the official proceedings of the Ercoupe Owners Club, it is rich in technical information and the literature of the popular aviation press. Holdings include various standards, instruction, service, maintenance, specifications, and owners manuals, along with some government (FAA and NTSB) forms and reports for the Ercoupe, Forney Aircoupe, and Mooney Cadet Model M10. Also included are numerous technical drawings of aircraft details from the 1960's. Sales and promotional brochures from Erco, Forney, Air Products (Carlsbad), Alon, Mooney, and various distributors, modification, and conversion manufacturers, such as Cleveland Wheel and Brake, are also represented.

The largest group of material represented by the collection is an extensive series of articles on the Ercoupe from the late 1930's to the 1980's from such publications as Aero Digest, Aviation Maintenance, Air News, Air Pilot and Technician, Flight, Air Trails, National Aeronautics, Flying, Mechanix Illustrated, Skyways, Aviation News, Aviation Week, Air Trend, Aeroplane and Astronautics, AOPA Pilot, FAA Aviation News, American Aviation, Private Pilot, Plane and Pilot, Air Progress, and Sport Flying.

The activities of the Ercoupe enthusiasts around the country are exemplified in the collection by the various newsletters and publications of the organizations around the country, including Coupe Scoop, the Ercoupe Club Newsletter of the International Ercoupe Association, Coupe Columns from Orange County, California, and Coupe Capers, the newsletter of the Ercoupe Owners Club. The many photographs in the collection were contributed by Club members, illustrating the aircraft and activities at various of the Club Fly-ins.

Naturally, this collection is of great value to the Ercoupe owner, providing a source of information on the plane for restoration or modification purposes. It also gives a history of the aircraft and its changes over the years. To the more casual researcher, the material illustrates the concerns and activities of a special-interest organization in supporting the needs of a group of aviation hobbyists.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS
1969, 1976, 1978
Ercoupe/Forney/Alon/Mooney aircraft registration and owner listing, including FAA number, year and model, engine number, and address, located in oversize box; International Ercoupe Association roster; and Ercoupe Owners Club Directory

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE - M.M. MOUNTJOY
19 Nov 1947
Letter providing information on the Ercoupe "Fours", including air speeds of the fixed gear and retractable gear models

CORRESPONDENCE - ROBERT WHIPPERMAN
1949-1980
Arranged chronologically
Correspondence, primarily with the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, concerning donation of Ercoupe serial #1. File includes some clippings, photos, operator's manual, owner's brochure and a letter from Fred Weick

CORRESPONDENCE - KENNETH A. HEATH
1968-1980, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
General correspondence about the Ercoupe, including information on modifications, inquiries from the Wheelchair Pilots Association concerning slide seats, and general information from Ercoupe Owners Club members

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

REMINISCENCES
1985
"The Ercoupe Story", excerpts from rough draft transcripts of the aeronautical reminiscences of Fred E. Weick

DIARY
May 26-June 19, 1954
Photocopy of an Ercoupe E flight-log/diary of a trip around Africa by Willie Botha, kept by passenger Arthur Oehley, with a related article

RESEARCH NOTES - ACCIDENT/INCIDENT SUMMARY
1979
Computer tabulation conducted for J. Smith of Ercoupe accident or incident reports

RESEARCH NOTES - (KEN HEATH)
1937-1977
Ercoupe performance data, compiled by Ken Heath

POEM
n.d.
Ferris, Charles - "I Just Smile"

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

APPLICATIONS
1966, 1976
Application forms for FAA registration of Alon Model X-A4 and documentation for application with the FAA of Cleveland Wheels & Brakes Conversion kit 199-69 for Supplemental Type Certification

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

INVOICES/PURCHASE ORDERS
1968-1977
Arranged chronologically
Various receipts, invoices, and purchase orders from Ken Heath for Ercoupe parts

MAPS, CHARTS, DIAGRAMS, GRAPHS, LISTS, ETC.

DRAWINGS
1945, n.d.
Cutaway illustration drawings of the Ercoupe

SPECIFICATIONS
1967
Specifications Alon X-A4.

BLUEPRINTS - ENGINEERING AND RESEARCH CORPORATION
1937-1945
Arranged by drawing number
Microfilm of Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) drawings from 1937 to 1945, of the model 415-C. The drawings are indexed to the microfilm frame number at the end of the roll of film and in an online list.

BLUEPRINTS - GENERAL
1945-1967, n.d.
Arranged numerically
Copies of technical blueprint drawings, primarily from Alon, Inc. for details of Ercoupe structure and assembly. Some located rolled in oversize box

BLUEPRINTS - KEN HEATH FILE
1969-1976
Personal drawings and sketches, and correspondence and drawings from Cleveland Wheel & Brake

INSTALLATION DRAWINGS/INSTRUCTIONS
1958-1987, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Installation instructions and drawings for radio equipment

PARTS LISTS/KITS
1978, n.d.
Univar Aircraft Corporation, Ercoupe Wheel Fairings, and W. E. Commings, Inc. parts lists and sales brochures

PRINTED MATERIAL

BROCHURES
1940?-1970?, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Sales and promotional brochures from Erco, Forney, Carlsbad, Alon, Mooney, and various distributors, modification, and conversion manufacturers

CLIPPINGS - MAGAZINES
1939-1987
Arranged chronologically
Articles, clipped from various aviation and popular magazines about the Ercoupe, including early discussions by Fred Weick

CLIPPINGS - NEWSPAPERS
1976-1992, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Newspaper clippings, many undated, concerning Ercoupe Owners Club activities and general Ercoupe references. Some photocopies.

PAMPHLETS/LEAFLETS
1969-1972, n.d.
Miscellaneous general pamphlets or leaflets, including Tips on Engine Care, and Cleveland Wheel and Brake flyers

BOOKS
1974-1981
Arranged chronologically
Historical publications on the Ercoupe and its development, including the booklet by Louis Buffardi and the book by Frank Saletri

MANUALS/TECHNICAL LITERATURE
1942-1983
Arranged chronologically
Various Standards, Instruction, Service, Maintenance, Specifications, and Owners Manuals, along with Government (FAA and NTSB) forms and reports

FLYERS/PROGRAMS
1945-1946, 1975-1981, n.d.
Publicity brochure and press release on Fred Weick's selection as winner of the 1946 Fawcett Aviation Award, material related to Ercoupe Owners Club Fly-ins, and an informal guide on buying an Ercoupe, by Woody Black

NEWSLETTERS
1944-1993
Arranged chronologically, by title
Publications of Erco (Ercoair), the International Ercoupe Association (Ercoupe Club Newsletter), and the Ercoupe Owners Club (Coupe Capers - also on microfilm 1969-1988)

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS
1937-1985, n.d.
Ercoupe photographs (color and black and white) including the 1937 1st Prototype 40hp, 1938 SN #1 As Produced, 1938 Fourth in line 65hp, photos (and negatives) from John Allen on manufacturing of Ercoupe, albums from the Estate of Bob German (one located in oversize box), National Fly-In (1983) in Minden, and postcards

AUDIO/VISUAL MATERIAL

SOUND RECORDINGS
1987
Ercoupe Owners Club, Durham, N.C. Four microcassette tapes of Board Meeting

VIDEO RECORDINGS
n.d.
Video tapes (2 1" U-Matic Format) of Fred Weick

ARTIFACTS

INSIGNIA PATCHES
1979-1983, n.d.
Decals of the Ercoupe Owners Club and commemorative patches from various Annual Fly-Ins

Inventory

Box 1

1. International Ercoupe Association roster, 1976
2. Ercoupe Owners Club Directory, 1978
3. M. Mountjoy Correspondence, Nov. 19, 1947
4. Robert Whipperman Correspondence File, 1949-1980
5. K.A. Heath Correspondence File, 1969-1980
6. "The Ercoupe Story", excerpted from rough draft transcripts from tapes of the Aeronautical Reminiscences of Fred E. Weick, 1985
7. Diary/Flight Log Around Africa, May 26-June 19, 1954
8. Engine Log Lycoming 0-320 (Ser.3213-27), 1966-1971
9. Computer Summary of Ercoupe Accidents, 1979
10. Performance Data Compiled by Ken Heath, 1937-1977
11. Ferris, Charles - "I Just Smile", n.d.
12. FAA Registration Forms Alon Model X-4A, 1966
13. Cleveland Wheels and Brakes Applications, 1976
14. Invoice/Purchase Orders (K.A. Heath), 1968-1976
15. Specifications Alon X-A4, 1967
16. Cutaway Illustration of Ercoupe, 1945
17. Cutaway Illustration of Ercoupe, n.d.
18. Outline Drawing of Ercoupe 415-C, n.d.
19. Three Views of Profile Model 310 (310-0001), 1939?

Box 2

1. F 14081 Wing Nav. Lite Bracket, 1958
2. Mod 100 Rudder Pedal Installation, 1966
3. A 14200 Taxi and Landing Lite Inst., 1967
4. F 31007 Assy Lower Fuselage, 1965
5. F 31020 Assy Center Sec. and Fuselage, 1964-65
6. F 31072 Upper Firewall Assy, 1967
7. F 31240 Front Fuse. Fuel Lines/Control Cables, 1959
8. F 31245 Assy Upper Front Fuselage Fuel Lines, 1957
9. F 34415 Assy Sleeve Outer Cyl Oleo Strut, 1958
10. A 33251 Bellville Spring, 1957
11. A 33500 Toe Brake Installation, 1964-65
12. A 33501 Hand Brake, 1965
13. 415-34365 Nose Gear Assy, 1947
14. F 40074 Cabin Heater Box Lower Firewall, 1959
15. A 40165 Exhaust Stack Flange, 1966
16. 415-40177 Cabin Heater Control Box Assy, 1945
17. A 40519 Carb Heat Coupling Inst., 1946
18. F 40557 Installation Prop, 1958
19. F 40559 Assem. Side Cowling, Cowling Instl, 1967
20. A 40594 Spinner Engine Inst., 1967
21. A 40652 Access Door Left Cowling, 1967
22. A 40653 Nose Cowl, 1967
23. A 40665 Assy Prop Front Plate, 1967
24. A 40703 RH Exhaust Stack Assy, 1964
25. A 40710 Engine Driven Vacuum System Inst., 1964
26. A 40711 Grusset (oil cooler scoop), 1965
27. A 40713 RH Exhaust Stack, 1966
28. F 51213 Install. Rear Speaker, 1960
29. A 51400 Instrument Panel Inst., 1964
30. A 51411 Venturi Inst., 1964
31. A 52434 Quadrant (control column), 1964

Box 3

1. F 52450 Rudder Pedal Inst., 1966
2. F 52455 Rudder Pedal Inst Sub Assy, 1965
3. F 52479 Push Rod Assy Nose Gear Steering, 1964
4. F 52530 Assy Control Mast Center Sec, 1965
5. F 53180 1 and 2 Seat Beam, Pan, Hook Inst., 1967
6. F 54048 Wire Assemblies, Electrical System, 1965
7. A 52602 Rudder Centering Spring, 1965
8. A 53303 Seat Installation, 1964-67
9. A 53331 RS Fresh Air Installation, 1966
10. A 53332 Fresh Air Slide Valve, 1966
11. A 53334 Baggage Compartment Inst., 1967
12. A 53335 Aft Canopy Inst., 1967
13. A 53336 Adjustable Seat Assy, 1967
14. A 53337 Upholstery and Soundproofing Inst., 1967
15. A 53338 Instrument and Cabin Lite Inst., 1967
16. A 53339 Baggage Retaining Net, 1967
17. A 54200 Instrument Electrical Gen Assy, 1964
18. 4001SK-1101 Assm. Ctr Section Fuselage Supercoupe, 1946

Box 4

1. K.A. Heath Drawings and Sketches, circa 1970
2. Wing Tip Plate Drawings 1415D & 1415I (K. Heath), 1969
3. Cleveland Wheels and Brakes Drawings, 1975-1976
4. Baggage Compartment and Bucket Seat Installation, n.d.
5. Radio Installation Drawings and Instructions, 1958-1962
6. Drawings for Service Bulletin #27, 1987
7. Install. Instructions for Bendix Radio Kit SK18, n.d.
8. Cabling Diagram for Narco VHT-3 Superhomer, n.d.
9. Ercoupe Parts Catalog-Univar Aircraft Corporation, 1978
10. Ercoupe Wheel Fairings-Advertising Brochure, n.d.
11. Ercoupe Landing Gears: Kits-Parts-Assemblies--W. E. Commings, Inc., n.d.
12. Optional list for Standard and Deluxe Models, 1965
13. Ercoupe for Transportation or Training (Erco), 1942?
14. A Message to Ercoupe Dealers (Newhouse & Sayre, Inc., Aviation Insurance), 1945
15. Servair Sales Script (Servair Aviation Corp.), 1946
16. Information Folder on the Guaranteed "Solo" Course - $68 (Sanders Aviation, Inc.), 1947?
17. For a New High in All-Round Utility, Fly the Improved Ercoupe...(Sanders Aviation, Inc.), 1948?
18. The New Ercoupe Club-Air, 1949
19. Ercoupe, the Certified Spin-Proof Plane (Erco), 194-
20. Ercoupe, the Certified Spin-Proof Plane (photocopy in Spanish) (Erco), 194-
21. Ercoupe, Certified Spinproof (Erco), 194-
22. The Erco Aviation Engine, 194-
23. Ercotwin: Erco Utility-Command Aircraft Proposal, 194-
24. Special Points in Ercoupe Flying, circa 1950
25. Fifth-Graders Fly Stolen Plane (Sanders Aviation), circa 1950
26. Ruleto Metal Wing Conversion Kit for Ercoupe...circa 1950
27. National Aviation Enterprises Ercoupe Products, circa 1950
28. Koch Aircraft Interiors Modernization Kits, circa 1950
29. Aircoupe (formerly Ercoupe) in Four Decades, 1955?
30. New, Smarter, Safer...Forney Aircoupe, 1955?
31. Have Your Ercoupe Customized, 1955?
32. Forney Aircoupe F-1, 1959?
33. '60 Fornaire Boasts 17 New Features, 1960
34. The Fornaire, Today's Ideal Plane...circa 1960

Box 5

1. Aircoupe: Introducing the 1961 Aircoupe, 1961
2. The New Aircoupe for Sale or Contract Hire (U.K.), 1961
3. Alon Aircoupe [price/equipment list], 1965
4. Aircoupe for the fun of it (Alon Aircoupe A2), ca. 1967
5. Alon Model A2-A: A beautiful combination of prestige and practicality (Mooney), ca. 1970
6. The Aircoupe Story: Skyport, Specialists in Aircoupe for 19 years, 1973?
7. Ercoupe in Five Decades: Family Album, [brochure for book "Everyone's Ercoupe"], 1975?
8. "Developing the ERCO airplane," Aviation (Fred E. Weick), April 1939
9. "Ercoupe" Air Facts vol. 3, no. 5, May 1940
10. "Flight training on the Ercoupe" Air Facts vol 3, no. 9 (Wood, W. M.), September 1940
11. "Owl plane: can't spin or stall," Popular Science, October 1940
12. "Fly it yourself" Saturday Evening Post(Thruelsen, Richard), December 1940
13. "Aviation in Commerce and Defense" National Geographic, vol. 78, no. 6, December 1940
14. "The development of the Ercoupe"SAE Journal, (Fred E. Weick), December 1941
15. "Prepared discussion on Mr. Weick's paper..." (Geisse, J. H.), [December 1941]
16. "Phenomenal flivver" Flying and Popular Aviation (Watkins, John C. A.), April 1941
17. "The groundloop and the Ercoupe" Aviation Facts, (Langewiesche, Wolfgang), April 1942
18. "Construct this Ercoupe" Model Craftsman, May 1942
19. "Design features of the Ercoupe" Aero Digest, Nov. 1944
20. "Parks Aircraft Sales and Service" Aviation Maintenance(Harris, Arthur W.D.), Oct. 1944
21. "How to Fly" published by Air News, 1945
22. "Ercoupe cockpit check lists" Air Pilot and Technician, Jan 1945
23. "Simpler flying" Flight (Weick, Fred E.), Feb. 1945
24. "Mr. Weick's Baby" Air Trails, Mar. 1945
25. "Hangar tempest" National Aeronautics (Kroger, William), Mar. 1945
26. "Six reasons for Culver's improved tricycle landing gear" Flying, Apr. 1945
27. "Planes are getting personal" Mechanix Illustrated (Cueva, Roland), Apr. 1945
28. "Post War Personal Planes" Skyways Apr. 1945
29. "Jet light planes?" Flying (Fischer, Charles M.), June 1945
30. "That Weick patent" Flying (Doherty, Edward), June 1945
31. "Department store plane sales set by Marshall Fields, Parks" Aviation News (Hess, Karl), June 1945
32. "Evolution of the Ercoupe" Skyways (Walker, Alec), July 1945
33. "The first Ercoupe [advert.] Chicago Sun (Marshall Field & Co.), Oct. 1945
34. Macy's rides the airways [news release), Oct. 1945
35. Ercoupe Cover Photo Flying, Jan. 1946
36. "Why Did Macy's Choose Ercoupe for Sky Minded New Yorkers?" Skyways, Jan. 1946
37. "Your Private Plane" Mechanix Illustrated, Jan. 1946

Box 6

1. "Tex Rankin offers Portland a million dollar industry" Aero Tribune, Feb. 1946
2. "The New Ercoupe" (Leighton Collins) Air Facts, Mar. 1946
3. "I'll Take Simplified Control . . .Make Mine Conventional" Skyways, Apr. 1946
4. "What Will You Fly?" Popular Mechanics, Apr. 1946
5. "Do You Want to Buy A Plane?" Look Apr. 16, 1946
6. "Probable materials of construction for the postreconversion light airplane", Aeronautical Engineering Review (F.B.Lane), May 1946
7. "Now on Edo floats...Ercoupe" Aviation News, May 1946
8. "Mr. Ercoupe" Flying Age, Including Flying Aces (Straus, Robert W.), June [1946?]
9. "The Ercoupe" Flying, Aug. 1946
10. "Sabotage reported after plant announces lay-off of 2700" Washington Post [news clipping], Nov. 1946
11. "Riverdale firm plans to resume 10-a-day plane output Jan. 6" Washington Evening Star [clipping], Dec. 1946
12. "Ercoupe...har kommit till bromma! Flyg [advert. in Swedish], 1946
13. "Fly baby" Oilways Vol. 13, no. 7 Jan. 1947
14. "Ercoupe-for Flying Farmers" California Cultivator, Apr. 1947
15. [Erco ad], Skyways, April 1947
16. "Win over $10,000.00 in Ercoupes" Flying Sportsman and Skyways, Aug. 1947
17. "Miniature Ercoupe" Model Airplane News, Sept. 1947
18. "Rebuilding the Ercoupe fuselage" Aviation Service Magazine (Packer, Ed), Feb. 1948
19. "Low and Slow in the Ercoupe" Ercoupe Takeoffs, June 30, 1948
20. Ercoupe Cover Photo Flying, Aug. 1948
21. "New pusher tested for certificate" Aviation Week, Dec. 1948
22. "Wind Tunnel Investigation of the Spinning Characteristics of a Model of a Twin-Tail Low-Wing Personal-Owner-Type Airplane...(Walter J. Klinar & Lawrence J. Gale) National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Technical Note No. 1801, Jan. 1949
23. "Ercoupe Clubair" Aviation Week, Jan. 1949
24. Ercoupes and Cross-Wind" Ercoupe Takeoffs, June 1949
25. "Hy Sheridan flies the lightplanes"Flying, Feb. 1950
26. "Flight to the North Star" Flying (Spratling, William), Mar. 1950
27. "Air age in agriculture" Houston Chronicle Magazine (Furneaux, John), Apr. 1950
28. "Vorerst geht es auch so!" Aero [In German], Aug. 1950
29. "Pilot's report: New Ercoupe" [Club-Air] Skyways (Hasbrook, A.H.) Sept. 1950
30. "Flying the two-control Ercoupe" Aeroplane (Fricker, John), May 1952
31. "The skyrocketing cost of air power" Reader's Digest (Langewiesche, Wolfgang), June 1953
32. "Latest Aircoupe Embraces 258 Changes" Aviation Week, Aug. 18, 1958
33. "Check Pilot's Report: The New Fornaire F-1" Air Trend (Page 14), Apr. 1959
34. "Cross-Country Pilot Report," Alice S. Fuchs, Vol.65, No. 1, Flying, p. 44, July 1959
35. "Flying the Aircoupe Execta" Aeroplane and Astronautics (Fricker, John), Jan. 1961
36. "Luck flies an Ercoupe" AOPA Pilot (Walthew, Jim), Apr. 1962
37. "Wichitans set up firm to produce AirCoupes" Wichita Eagle [newsclipping], Mar. 1964
38. "The new Alon A-2 Aircoupe" Flight Magazine (Ashley, Tom), Dec. 1964
39. "New version of old sport-trainer is certified" FAA Aviation News, Feb. 1965
40. "Alon's New Aircoupe" Flying (Page 47), Feb. 1965
41. "Alon Aircoupe" AOPA Pilot, June 1965
42. "Handling ease marks Alon's A2 Aircoupe" American Aviation, Sept. 1965
43. "They make flying fun" Kansas (Stebbins, Fred), 1965
44. "A Preview Peek at the Alon Model A4" Private Pilot (Page 54), Feb/Mar 1966
45. "The 1966 Alon Four-Seater" Plane and Pilot (Page 61), March 1966
46. "Max Conrad Seeks More Records" Plane and Pilot (Page 26), June 1966
47. "New Four-Seater Alon is Flying,"Plane and Pilot, June 1966
48. "The Alon Ercoupe" Plane and Pilot, July 1966
49. "Pilot Report-Alon Aircoupe" Flying, Sept. 1966
50. [Aircoupe Ads] Flying, 1966-1967
51. "Unusual Aircoupe" Plane and Pilot, April 1967
52. "Ercoupe" Chuck Wolfe, Used Aircraft Pilot Report Flying, Vol. 74, No. 4, p. 48, Apr. 1967
53. "Alon A2 Ercoupe" Private Pilot, July 1967
54. "We fly the Alon" Air Progress , Aug. 1967
55. "Turn the Tigers Loose" Sport Flying, Vol. 1 #3 Aug. 1967
56. "Modernizing an Ercoupe" Plane and Pilot, Dec. 1967

Box 7

1. "The Aircoupe" Flying (Page 66), May 1968
2. "Aircoupe" Plane and Pilot, October 1968
3. "First flight: the Mooney Cadet" Flying, (Trammell, Archie), Dec. 1968
4. "Mooney Makes It Great!" Private Pilot, March 1969
5. "Easy to fly Ercoupe" Plane and Pilot, Apr. 1969
6. "Meet Fred Weick" The AOPA Pilot , (Page 32), Apr. 1969
7. "Smogcutting in a Cadet" Plane and Pilot (Page 18), October 1969
8. "Mooney's New Cadet" Airways (Page 36) December 1969
9. "An Aircoupe Becomes a Training Machine" Discover Flying, 1969
10. [Ercoupe/Mooney performance figures] Private Pilot & Plane and Pilot, 1969/1975
11. "Mooney's Cadet For '70" Plane and Pilot , Jan 1970
12. "Don't Forget the Ercoupe" Plane and Pilot, Jan. 1970
13. "A Longtime Ercoupe Owner Meets an Old Friend in New Clothes" Plane and Pilot, June 1970
14. "Old Ercoupes Just Fly and Fly" Airways, July 1970
15. "Jack Stafford models Aircoupe-MRC Enya 45" Model Airplane News, Nov. 1970
16. "The classic airplane: the Ercoupe" Sport Aviation (Burgher, Peter H.), June 1971
17. "Ercoupe/Aircoupe" Private Pilot, Aug. 1971
18. "Ercoupe-the Plane that Changed Flying" Plane and Pilot-Antique and Classic Airplane Annual, 1971
19. "The Ercoupe and its offspring", AOPA Pilot, Mar. 1972
20. "Pilot's Logbook," (Ayers, W. B.) Private Pilot, Aug. 1973
21. "A Conversation With Fred Weick" Air Progress, Aug. 1973
22. "Old But Modern: The Ercoupe," Plane & Pilot [Used Plane Annual], 1973
23. "Clash of the Clunkers" Air Progress Jan. 1974
24. "Ercoupe Air Shuttle" AOPA Pilot Jan. 1974
25. "Oh, Me? I Own A--er--Mooney!" AOPA Pilot, Aug. 1974
26. "Tailwheel vs. tricycle gear" Used Planes (Dwiggins, Don), Winter 1975
27. "From A-Zenith . . . A Life in Aviation" (Part 1) Florida Journal, June 1976
28. "Living Legends - Fred E. Weick" Flying, June 1976
29. "A Date With an Old Girlfriend" Private Pilot, June 1977
30. "Ercoupe/Aircoupe," Keith Connes, Air Progress, Sept. 1977
31. "415-C D Ercoupe: look ma, no rudder pedals" Used Planes Guide, Summer, 1977
32. "Used airplane guide: the Ercoupe" Aviation Consumer, Feb 1978
33. "Early Bird," Air Progress, May 1978
34. "The Ercoupe" Plane and Pilot, July 1978
35. "The Ercoupe" AOPA Pilot, Mar. 1980
36. "Flying The Easy Ercoupe," Learn To Fly, Spring 1980
37. "My Flying Daze" Reader's Digest, June 1981
38. "Used airplane guide: the Ercoupe" Aviation Consumer, 1981
39. "From Arrow to Alon" Private Pilot, Jan. 1982
40. "Planes for the Month" Aero, July 1982
41. "Enviable Ercoupe" Plane & Pilot Report, Nov. 1982
42. "The sky is the limit: JPL and the origins of American rocketry" American History Illustrated, Jan 1984
43. [Article Comparing Ultralight & Ercoupe Landings] Sport Aviation, Mar. 1984
44. "Brief history of the first US JATO flight tests of August 1941" Preprint from International Astronautical Federation 36th Congress, Oct. 1985
45. "Flying the Ercoupe: simply unique!" Private Pilot (Downie, Don), Sept. 1987
46. "Architects of aviation: Fred Weick" AOPA Pilot Sept. 1987
47. "Interesting members: The Weicks, Fred and Dorothy" Vintage Airplane, Dec. 1987
48. "Used Aircraft Guide" The Aviation Consumer, Dec. 15, 1987
49. "Von Karman's Way" Air Force Magazine, Jan 2000

Box 8

1. "History of the Aircoupe" [collection of articles compiled by J.F. Allen], 1936-1944
2. Clipping Notebook (from Daryle and Shirley Lessard)
   • "Living Legends" Flying Magazine June 1976
   • "Four Years of Simpler Flying with the Ercoupe," October 6, 1944
   • A Study of the Two Control Operation of an Airplane by Robert T. Jones, 1936
   • "The Classic Airplane, The Ercoupe" Sport Aviation (Peter H. Burgher), June 1971
   • "Pilot Report: Ercoupe 415c" Private Pilot (LaRoy Cook), October 1973
   • Old but Modern: The Ercoupe 1973
   • "Ercoupe . . . a Poorman's P-38" Plane and Pilot, April 1975
   • "Ercoupe/Aircoupe" Private Pilot, August 1971
   • "Unusual Aircoupe" Flying Times, Winter 1974
   • "Old Crate to Cream Puff" Sport Aviation (Lawrence W. Morres, Jr.), June 1970
   • "The Ercoupe (and its offspring)" The AOPA Pilot (Peter M. Bowers), March 1972
   • "A Conversation with Fred Weick" Air Progress
   • "Clash of the Clunkers" Air Progress (Dave Noland), January 1974
   • "Used Airplane Guide" The Aviation Consumer, February 15, 1978
   • "Resale Corner: The Popular Ercoupe" Plane and Pilot (Don Dwiggins), February 1974
   • "Pilot Report: Alon-Aircoupe" Flying September 1966
   • "Pilot Report: A Date with an Old Girlfriend" Private Pilot (Edward R. Woerle), July 1977
   • "The Alon A-4" (Sharman Cavanaugh)
   • "Traffic Pattern" Flying, September 1966
   • "Mooney Cadet" Pilot's Yearbook, 1969
   • "Smogcutting in a Cadet" (Bob Boden)
   • "Oh, Me? I Own a-er-Mooney!" AOPA Pilot, August 1974
   • Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 58, 58A
   • Service Bulletin-Fornaire No. 101, 106, 107, 108, 109
   • Skyport Aircoupe Services Sept. 1973, Jan. 1977
3. Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings (Originals), 1976-1981
4. Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings (Photocopies), 1979-1992
5. Miscellaneous Technical Pamphlets/Leaflets, 1969-1972, n.d.
6. The Twin Tail Tiger: Ercoupe/Aircoupe/Alon/Mooney, 1974
7. Ercoupe by Louis Buffardi, 1980

Box 9

1. Alon standards manual, 1942-1965
2. Ercoupe Instruction Manual, June 1946
3. Ercoupe Service Manual (incl. Bulletins/Memos), 1946-1960
4. Ercoupe Bulletins and Memoranda, 1948-1954

Box 10

1. Continental Motors Instruction and Service Manual: Models C75 and C85, April 1946
2. Continental Motors "C" Series Maintenance and Overhaul Manual, circa 1961
3. ERCO Engineering and Research Corporation [Descriptive Product Catalog], 1951?
4. FAA Repair/Alterations Forms, 1962-1971
5. FAA Specifications/Requirements, 1955, 1970-1971
6. Aircoupe owner's manual, 196-?
7. Mooney Cadet, Owners Manual, 1969
8. Mooney Cadet Model M10 - Service/Maint. Manual, 1970
9. Mooney Cadet Model M10 - Weight & Balance Records, 1970

Box 11

1. Summary of Airworthiness Directives for Small Aircraft (in three folders), Jan. 1980
2. Aircraft Systems Check-Out Flight Test Alon XA-4 Limitations XA-4, 1983
3. NTSB Accident File of Ercoupe N3184H (Model 415C), 1983
4. Summary of Modifications to N94629 (Model 415D), 1985
5. Fundamentals of Elementary Ercoupe Flight Maneuvers Univar Aircraft Corporation, n.d.

Box 12

1. Fawcett Aviation Award Press Release and Brochure, 1945-1946
2. Ercoupe Owners Club Fly-ins, 1975-1981
3. The Ercoupe Letter, by Woody Black, n.d.
4. Parks Air News (Scattered Issues - Photocopies), July 1944-Jan. 1947
5. Ercoair, Nov. 1944
6. Ercoair, Feb. 1945
7. Ercoair, Sept. 1945
8. Ercoair, Oct. 1945
9. Ercoair, Nov. 1945
10. Ercoair, Jan. 1946
11. Ercoair, Aug. 1946
12. Ercoair, Sept. 1946
13. Ercoair, Oct. 1946
14. Irkoair [parody], Feb. 1945
15. Ercoupe News, May 1946
16. Ercoupe bulletin, 46-1, Jan. 1946
17. Erco Air, Sept. 1956
18. Coupe Scoop, Vol. 1 No. 1 & 3, Sept., Dec. 1957
19. Ercoupe Club Newsletter-Intl. Ercoupe Assn., 1973
20. Ercoupe Club Newsletter-Intl. Ercoupe Assn., 1974
21. Ercoupe Club Newsletter-Intl. Ercoupe Assn., 1975
22. Ercoupe Club Newsletter-Intl. Ercoupe Assn., 1976
23. Ercoupe Club Newsletter-Intl. Ercoupe Assn., 1977
24. Ercoupe Club Newsletter-Intl. Ercoupe Assn., 1978
25. Ercoupe Club Newsletter-Intl. Ercoupe Assn., 1979
26. Coupe Columns (Orange, California), 1984

Box 13

1. "Coupe Capers technical index through March 1987", 1987
2. Coupe Capers (Vol.1, no.4), [1969]
3. Coupe Capers (Vol.2, no.1), n.d.
4. Coupe Capers (Vol.3, no.1-12), 1974-1975
5. Coupe Capers (Vol.6, no.8-11), 1978
6. Coupe Capers (Vol.7, no.7-12), 1978-1979
7. Coupe Capers (Vol.8, no.1,3,6,12), 1979-1980
8. Coupe Capers (Vol.9, no.1-12), 1980-1981
9. Coupe Capers (Vol.10, no.1-5, 7-12), 1981-1982
10. Coupe Capers (Vol.11, no.1,3-12), 1982-1983
11. Coupe Capers (Vol.12, no.2-12), 1983-1984
12. Coupe Capers (Vol.13, no.1-12), 1984-1985

Box 14

1. Coupe Capers (Vol.14, no.1-12), 1985-1986
2. Coupe Capers (Vol.15, no.1-12), 1986-1987
3. Coupe Capers (Vol.16, no.1-7), 1987
4. Coupe Capers (Vol.17, no.1-12), 1988
5. Coupe Capers (Vol.18, no.1-12), 1989
6. Coupe Capers (Vol.19, no.1-12), 1990
7. Coupe Capers (Vol.20, no.1-12), 1991
8. Coupe Capers (Vol.21, no.1-12), 1992

Box 15

1. Coupe Capers (Vol. 22, no. 1-12), 1993
2. Coupe Capers (Vol. 23, no. 1-12), 1994
3. Coupe Capers (Vol. 24, no. 1-12), 1995
4. Coupe Capers (Vol. 25, no. 1-12), 1996
5. Coupe Capers (Vol. 26, no. 1-12), 1997
6. Coupe Capers (Vol. 27, no. 1-12), 1998
7. Coupe Capers (Vol. 28, no. 1- ), 1999

Many of these issues are available on microfilm.

Box 16

1. Photographs - Black & White, 1937-38, n.d.
   14 8x10 Black and White Photos "Announcing Ercoupe" - those dated include:
   • 1937 1st Prototype 40hp
   • 1938 SN #1 As Produced
   • 1938 Fourth in line 65hp
   • 1 post card of Aircoupe
   • 1 Black and White 3 1/2x5 Nose Bowl of Aircoupe
   • donated by Kenny Engineering
   • 8 Black and White on Ercoupe from John Allen
2. Photographs - Black & White (and Negatives) from John Allen on manufacturing of Ercoupe, n.d.
3. Photographs (photocopies) 1940's
4. Photograph album (Estate of Bob German), 1973-1984
5. Loose photographs (83 prints, 1 negative wheel) (Estate of Bob German), 1976-1985
6. Photograph (color) from National Fly-In, Minden, Nebraska July 4th Weekend, 1983
7. Photographs (color) - Miscellaneous, 1994
8. Post Cards (Original and photocopies), n.d.
9. Ercoupe Owners Club, Durham, N.C. Four microcassette tapes, 1987
10. Video tapes (2 1" U-Matic Format) of Fred Weick, n.d.
11. Patches, Decals, etc., n.d.

Oversize Box

1. Ercoupe/Forney/Alon/Mooney Aircraft owners, 1969
2. Modern Hobbycrafts Ercoupe scale model sheet, n.d.
3. N2522H Interior panel and upholstery patterns, n.d.
4. Floor boards, instrument panel & airfoil patterns, n.d.
5. Photograph album (Estate of Bob German), 1973-1983
6. Oversize Photo of 1984 Fly-In

Oversize Flat Drawer: Miscellaneous Drawings (rolled), n.d.

1. Fuselage
2. Steel main gear
3. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
4. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
5. Comm. conversion Forney seat installation
6. Ercoupe seat contour and installation
7. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
8. Cockpit profile
9. Bucket seat installation
10. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
11. 415-C N Cockpit side view
12. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
13. Jig for load test of Ercoupe bucket seats
14. Fabricated parts bucket seat installation, 415-C N2522H
15. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
16. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
17. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
18. Landing light installation 415-C
19. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
20. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
21. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
22. Unidentified miscellaneous drawing
23. Ercoupe seats, etc.

Microfilm

Roll 1

1. Engineering & Research Corporation (ERCO) drawings of the model 415-C, 1937-1945

Roll 2

1. Coupe Capers (Vol.1, no.1-v.8, no.12 - v.2 missing), Winter 1969-May 1980

Roll 3

1. Coupe Capers (Vol.9, no.1-v.17, no. 12), June 1980-Dec 1988

Index to Microfilm Blueprints

Manuscripts by Subject | Miscellaneous Collections