Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) was started by Henry Berliner in 1930. Berliner was the son of Emile Berliner, who had patented numerous inventions relating to sound and acoustics, and was pioneer of helicopter development with the experimental Berliner Helicopter. When ERCO was founded, it produced tools for the manufacture of metal aircraft and propellers in a shed in Washington D.C.
Berliner met Fred Weick, an aeronautical engineer, who worked with National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in cowlings and propellers. Weick also worked on an experimental aircraft that incorporated the up-to-date safety features. In 1936, Weick left NACA to work for ERCO on his "safety airplane".
In 1937, Berliner purchased 50 acres of land in Riverdale, Maryland near the College Park Airport and built the large ERCO factory and airstrip. One of the most significant achievements was the development of the Ercoupe aircraft.
ERCO Ercoupe
The ERCO Ercoupe is a low-wing monoplane aircraft that was test-flown at College Park airport in 1937. It was first manufactured by ERCO shortly before World War II and 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.
ERCO 415-CD Ercoupe, registration PH-NCE, built 1947, serial number 4765 Ede, Netherlands, 23 August 2019
