The Impossible Airplane Showcases Aviation Innovation

A team is modifying the gull-wing door of a Van’s RV-10 for improved disability access.

One of my favorite things about the Ercoupe is that I can fly it with the windows down—amid a beautiful sunset, the wind in my face, a calm Arizona sky—you get the picture. Getting inside an Ercoupe is not the easiest because you have to climb down into it and try not to bang your knees on the instrument panel, but not having a door has its perks. All I have to do is slide open the windows, climb in, and then slide them shut. And then, if I feel like it, I slide them down while in flight, and I have my very own convertible in the sky.

Yes, the Ercoupe cruises about 90 mph, so it feels more like a convertible speeding down a freeway. I have to ensure my hair is secured, so it doesn’t blow around and block my vision. If the pilot feels like it, they can stick an arm out the window to steer in one direction. I choose not to put my leg out because that would mean putting half my body out the window. What a sight that would make!

One of the challenges we faced with upgrading to the Impossible Airplane (a Van’s Aircraft  RV-10) was… [continue reading]