First
Flight |
Model |
Military
Number |
Name |
| 1939 |
415 |
YO-55 |
Ercoupe |
|
|
|
|
In the mid
1930s. Fred Weick and several fellow engineers at the National
Advisory Committee for Aviation (NACA) decided to design an airplane
to fulfill the requirements set forth by the Bureau of Air Commerce
for an easy-to-fly, safe aircraft.
The Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO)
was founded to develop this design. The Ercoupe design was
tested as an observation aircraft but was not selected for
production. Civil aircraft production being cancelled during
World War II, ERCO produced punchers, riveters and other
machinery. The expected post-war boom in light aircraft did
not materialize in time for the owners of ERCO who sold their
inventory and production rights in 1947. |
