page_title: ERCO Ercoupe
section_title: Military
hierarchical_section_title: ERCO Ercoupe / Operational history / Military
caption_attribution_description: GORDON W. HUBBARD COLLECTION No. 3545. Erco XPQ-13 (41-25196 c/n 110) USAAF Aeroplane Photo Supply (APS) Photo No. 4473
context_page_description: The ERCO Ercoupe is an American low-wing monoplane aircraft that was first flown in 1937. It was first manufactured by the Engineering and Research Corporation shortly before World War II; several other manufacturers continued its production after the war. The final model, the Mooney M-10, first flew in 1968 and the last model year was 1970. It was designed to be the safest fixed-wing aircraft that aerospace engineering could provide at the time and the type continues to enjoy a faithful following.
context_section_description: Three model 415-C aircraft were procured by the United States Army Air Forces for use during World War II.
  On 12 August 1941, the first USAAF rocket-assist takeoff was made by a Wright Field test pilot, Capt. Homer Boushey, using a small civilian-type Ercoupe aircraft. Subsequent refinements of this technique were made for assisting heavily loaded aircraft in taking off from limited space. The tests were conducted between 6 August and 23 August 1941, at March Field, California, using various combinations of rocket units mounted under the wings of NC28655.
  An additional Ercoupe was evaluated by the Royal Air Force in 1947.  This aircraft was serial number 4784, carried Royal Air Force markings VX 147 and was polished metal all over with RAF roundels.
caption: ERCO PQ-13; serial number 41-25196
exif: {}