About the ENGINEERING & RESEARCH 415-C
The Engineering & Research Corporation (ERCO) 415-C, also known as the ERCO Ercoupe, has a special place in general aviation history due to its innovative design and emphasis on safety. The Ercoupe was the brainchild of Fred Weick, an aeronautical engineer committed to creating a plane that was not only easy to fly but also exceptionally safe for novice pilots. This aircraft first took to the skies in 1937 and represented a significant advancement in aviation technology for its time. Full-scale production began in 1940, with ERCO manufacturing the plane at its factory in Riverdale, Maryland. The production was interrupted by World War II but resumed robustly post-war due to a surge in civilian pilot interest and a booming post-war economy. The ERCO 415-C became especially popular in the late 1940s as it aligned perfectly with the growing interest in personal and recreational flying among the American public. It was seen as an ideal aircraft for flight schools and private owners alike. One of the most distinctive features of the Ercoupe was its tricycle landing gear, which made takeoff and landing significantly easier, and its lack of rudder pedals, which simplified the flying process by combining aileron and rudder inputs into a single control yoke mechanism. These features, coupled with its robust design and reliable performance, made the Ercoupe a groundbreaking aircraft in terms of pilot safety and ease of use. The ERCO 415-C typically featured a 75 horsepower Continental engine and had a characteristic low-wing monoplane design. Its approachable design philosophy served to demystify flying for thousands of new pilots and cemented its place in aviation history as one of the safest and most pilot-friendly aircraft of its era.