ERCOUPE OWNERS CONVENTION USA 2008 WAUSAU (Wisconsin)
July 2008
by Robert Rombouts, Belgium
This year I had the opportunity to make a short trip to the USA to visit the Ercoupe Owners Convention of Wausau and the fabulous Oshkosh “Fly Happening”.
In 2005 I participated for the first time in the Ercoupe Convention at Minden (Louisiana), it was the period I did the restoration of the OO-PUS and my eyes, big as an old 50 Belgian Franc, could not believe it to see 25 Ercoupes together on an airfield with a few polished Coupes shining in the sun, marvelous. I wanted mine also shining as a mirror, but realized that shining paint is not so bad as I am really lazy.
Wausau airfield is the home base of Sid Cohen, Director of Region 5 for the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Sid with his meticulous and perfect organization gives the entire participant a wonderful and perfect Convention. Thanks Sid you did a tremendous and interesting Convention.
His Ercoupe is a flying mirror with original dashboard, a Coupe you are scared to touch.A very big surprise was waiting for me on the tarmac. Yes our European Ercouper or “Lindbergh” or Sven-Eric Pira from Sweden was standing before me. Because I was so surprised I even asked him if he came with his Ercoupe, you never know with him. But he came as I did with the airliner. Result was that more than 6% of the Europeans where present at the Wausau Convention.
Alan Fairclough, Sven-Eric Pira and Robert RomboutsThe weather was not so good and all the flying was cancelled but Sid had for his plan B, a perfect solution to keep us busy. He is also restoring a old Waco CG-4A Invasion Glider of the WWII. With all the history, details and photos about the Waco Sid give us an interesting conference.
Mrs. Carolyn Carden asked me if I would accept to be a Regional Director for the European side, this was just before I went to the Convention. Because I didn’t know what the duties and obligations will be, I asked more details on Mr. Skip Carden her husband, and I have accepted it.
This Convention was unbelievable, 53 Ercoupes were standing on the Wausau Airfield, and I had bigger eyes than in 2005. We have to congratulate Sid for his effort and all the pilots for participating this event. We have also to consider the fact that the Convention was just before the Oshkosh happening and a lot of pilots intended to do the two together. The fuel price is also getting up (5, 44 $ / Us Gal) and the weather was full of storms coming from everywhere.
Alan Fairclough, Wing Leader of Texas, who visited me in May at Ostend, did a 1.036 NM distance flight from Houston to Wausau. We in Europe are grasshoppers with our Coupes in comparison with the huge distance they fly in the US. But we have to be proud, our conditions are completely different with all our TMA’s, CTR’s , Restricted zones, Military zones, paperwork and fuel cost who made flying more difficult, but still possible. Conclusion, go to America and taste the real pleasure of flying.
Because I have in the OO-PUS rudder pedals, my interest was to fly an Ercoupe without pedals. Alan’s Fairclough Coupe is a pedal less one and he proposed me to fly it. Amazing, unforgettable, delicious a dream, I pass my test, but it was a scaring test.
Before we went off we feel some rain drops, Alan full of confidence told me it was no problem. I taxied out and Alan did the radio and hop, we where in the air, quiet bumping in a left turn, straight downwind all well, then I think Alan received a warning call from the Wausau tower that a storm is coming close to the airfield. Alan give me sign to turn back on a long final and then we saw a very dark cloud in front of us approaching very quick with a dens rainfall like a curtain on the runway. This was my quickest approach with a Coupe, arriving on the runway the visibility was still good, and then it was an IFR situation. The plane still in the air and waiting for the tyres to touch the tarmac, the speed was ok so we did a good landing but could not taxi because the Ercoupe doesn’t have screen washers. Waiting a little and we taxied back to the apron; this convinced me that I don’t need pedals anymore in my OO-PUS.
Thanks Alan that you give me the opportunity and a new experience, I am happy your 1946 Ercoupe is still in good condition.We had also the Official Meeting of all the Regions, with the Directors and Wing Leaders. The financial balance of the year was discussed, and each explained the situation in there Regions. Because of the fuel cost and the unstable financial situation worldwide, the Fly Ins have less attendees,so we know the problem.
We all have to continue to contact each of the Ercoupe Owners and not lose the good contacts and meetings we try to build up. With the new EMU’s or Ercoupe Meet-Ups Mike Willis is starting is a very good idea and will move more Coupers to have a goal and opportunity to find friends.
The Sunday morning 27th, about 36 Ercoupes intend to fly to Oshkosh. Again Sid Cohen did the planning and briefing for the formation fly to Oshkosh, and all arrived well in an amazing group as elegant bees. I waited with my video but could not take the approach around 13hr local. This kind of flying is not possible in Belgium. In Oshkosh they used two runways and arrived one after the other with an interval of a minute, a beautiful show, I was very impressed.
Without an Ercoupe you feel as naked between so many splendid and well maintained Coupes.
Thank Sid Cohen, I had a wonderful and pleasant time in Wausau, I know what it means to organize a Fly In.Because I cannot send all the photos, I propose you will see them all on the website:
http://groups.msn.com/Ercoupe/2008eocamposhkosh.msnw
Regards, Robert
