I am a student pilot about to take my checkride. I am interested in conventional gear airplanes but no one I know through flying has much experience or knowledge in that area. I am interested in Citabrias and searching for more information but I am getting more confused as I go. What is the difference/relationship/connection between Aeronca/Bellanca/Champion etc? I realize this is probably common knowledge but I am new to this and it is confusing to an outsider. Thanks for your help.
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Basic Questions Please Help
- Thread starter DavidK
- Start date
Hi there, I'm not the world's best expert on this by any means, but the simple answer is more to do with the passage of time and the passing on of different companies.
Aeronca was the first of your list and came up with many original designs from which later models evolved.
Bellanca took on various designs plus did some of their own.
Champion took on some Bellanca designs.
American Champion Aircraft now make and sell the Citabria/Decathlon range.
I'm sure others, or possibly a website somewhere, will give you the details on the story - I'm still discovering this stuff myself!
Aeronca was the first of your list and came up with many original designs from which later models evolved.
Bellanca took on various designs plus did some of their own.
Champion took on some Bellanca designs.
American Champion Aircraft now make and sell the Citabria/Decathlon range.
I'm sure others, or possibly a website somewhere, will give you the details on the story - I'm still discovering this stuff myself!
ErikHeiker
New member
Actually, Champion came after Aeronca. Then in the mid-70's Bellanca tried its hand for a half dozen or so years. Now American Champion is up at bat. I hope they manage to keep it going for a long time.
Erik
Erik
charlie hensley
New member
Take a look at the first series of forum discussions under "misalignment of elevator and stabilizer". There is a good discussion concerning the relationship between a 7KCAB Citabria and a Champ. They are basically the same airplane but the Citabria has a bigger engine.
Blue Thunder
New member
I checked out aerofiles dot com when first getting into Aeronca Champ work. This site has brief descriptions of most models ever built, indexed by manufacturer.
charlie hensley
New member
Blue Thunder:
The story I got about Citabria/Milman aluminum spar conversions was that people in Alaska wanted to beef the wings in Citabrias in the 80's. The original group who developed the "Milman conversion" for aluminum spars designed and got the conversion approved. Milman came along and bought the propriatary STC and began selling the conversion as a fix for the wing spar AD problems in the '90's. Have you heard the same story?
We are very happy with our Milman conversion, for our 7KCAB that was completed in November, and Milman people were very helpful.
If you want to reply to this off-forum, send it to charliehensley@ortool.com.
The story I got about Citabria/Milman aluminum spar conversions was that people in Alaska wanted to beef the wings in Citabrias in the 80's. The original group who developed the "Milman conversion" for aluminum spars designed and got the conversion approved. Milman came along and bought the propriatary STC and began selling the conversion as a fix for the wing spar AD problems in the '90's. Have you heard the same story?
We are very happy with our Milman conversion, for our 7KCAB that was completed in November, and Milman people were very helpful.
If you want to reply to this off-forum, send it to charliehensley@ortool.com.