New Ercoupe owner

I just recently took my Checkride in an Ercoupe. Many instructors (especially the newly minted ones) aren't familiar with the plane and so avoid it. And my insurance required the CFI have 5 hours in Ercoupes (a risk I had to assume since I couldn't find one). As a result, I did most of my training in Cherokees and C-150s. Once I solo'd, I taught myself to fly my Ercoupe. My instructor went up once with me, then signed me off. I noticed 2 primary differences when landing.

1. obviously, you have to land in a crab if there is a crosswind. But you probably already are crabbed when on final, so just maintain that all the way to the runway. Forget about doing slips, or kicking rudder at the last second. The plane knows what to do when the wheels touch the pavement. On one of my last landings with the instructor on a windy day, he commented, "You know, we just landed in a 15 knot crosswind". I hadn't noticed.

2. When you first touch down but still have some speed, your steering is through the nose wheel, not the rudders. Don't try to hold the nose gear off the runway for as long as you can like in other planes, you need it to steer.

When you get close to taking the checkride, contact some Examiners. I had several tell me I couldn't test in an Ercoupe because it couldn't demonstrate all the skills required by the Standards. It helps if you cite the FAR section that allows for testing in planes that can't meet all the Standards. I'm not sure all examiners are familiar with that paragraph.

The inspection holes are there. It is like swiss cheese under the wing.

The IA who did the annual is familiar with the plane and looked in the inspection holes. Based on what I have read on this forum though, it is not always easy to see the corrosion unless a borescope is used or the wings are removed. There is exterior corrosion that I was able to sand off. It all appears to be only on the exterior and due to a poor paint job from the po. It's this exterior corrosion that has me concerned about more possible corrosion on the inside spar. So I want to ensure there is no corrosion.

Thanks for steering me Vernon's way. I will contact him.

I have only spoken with a couple instructors who are in the hangers where my plane is tied down. They both said the rudder is the most important part of their training... However, they also did not seem to be able to teach me how to land in a tail dragger(something I want to do to compensate for the lack of rudder training in the ercoupe) -- so long story short I will keep looking around. I really just need a lesson or two on how to 'crab' land.

I too am a student pilot and I am getting my instruction in my Coupe.  Where are you going to locate your Coupe?  I am about 100 miles east of S.F.   My instructor is a young guy and he ferries planes as well.  I know you issues and concerns.  This is my first airplane and as you can see I am a student pilot.  If I can help in any way, just let me know..    

did you grt a prepurchase inspection ? There should be 5 or 6 , 2 inch inspection
holes on the underside of each wing You said they were there . . These are required and shoul give you adequate inspection capability .
Be very wary of any instructor who won.t instruct in your coupe . The Ercoupe is one of the safest factory aircraft produced . As to no rudder pedals , the only real drawback is if you test in it , you will get a license limitation to fly only "no rudder pedal aircraft" (double check this) If you were told corrosion WAS evident , not a good thing . Enjoy