Citabria 7ECA as your only plane??

H

Hawkeyenfo

New member
Hi all,

Thought I wanted to buy a 7ECA to fly around/aerobatics and soak up my available "rental money" but now I'm not sure that it would be the best platform. Looking for opinions from those of you who went through the same decision matrix. Buy the 7ECA and occasionally rent a 172, etc or buy a larger platform (also looking at a 170B) and occasionally rent the 7ECA?

ahhhhhh, decisions, decisions! Thanks for your thoughts.

Chris 8)
 
You need to set yourself down and figure out what kind of flying you do MOST of the time and then make your mind up. I have a 172 that I have owned for 20 years, I also purchased a SuperChamp ( O235 powered 7AC) a couple of years ago. I rarely fly the 172 anymore even though it is the better all around plane to own. I am just having too much fun flying on floats and being able to land the Champ at my farm when it is on wheels. Now, if I have to fly more than 3-4 hours I will use the 172. But I have flown the 172 less than 10 hours this summer. The only reason I still have it is because my son just finished getting his private ticket in it.
I am about to list it for sale but keep changing my mind....it really is a versitile airplane.
Keith
 
Yep, I've been thinking about it for a while and keep running into that familiar question.......which one? I had made up my mind to start dealing on a nive 7Eca here in Va and then I made the critical/classic mistake of looking through trade-a-plane again and there was a nice 170B (actually, several nice 170s but 1 that seemed more to my liking! The only thing that gets me about the 170 is no aerobatics....which I've been doing a lot of lately...
 
I own a Mooney M20C that has been in the family for 33 years and it is a great airplane. I bought the 7ECA almost a year ago because it suits my type of flying more and fly the Mooney only when I need to get there fast. I agree with what was previously said, sit down and realistically look at what kind of flying you do. The Citabria to me is one of the most enjoyable and affordable certified aircraft out there.

Good Luck
W Smith
N50264
 
Easier to rent a 172 or Cherokee than a Citabria !

Starting 12 years ago, I have had................

Vagabond, C120, C175, Champ, 7ECA, Zlin 526F, Champ, Christen Eagle, 7GCBC.

The only one I didn't have huge fun in.................. C172

The only one I lost money on.................. Zlin 526 (Cheap European ones started being imported).

As you can see, I have been an Aeronca/Bellanca multiple offender, why ? Easy - they offer the best compromise between so many disciplines, great visibility, easy maintenence, aero's, floating about etc.

Get the 7ECA, or if you can find a 7KCAB you can afford, even better, because once you have hung in the straps, you will want to return without cleaning oil off the belly :roll:
 
I recently sold my 206 and bought a 7GCBC (after agonizing over the 172 option). My good friend and flying buddy owns a 170B. My two cents: Unless you absolutely need more than two seats, buy the 7ECA and rent bigger when needed. If you gotta have four (three honest) seats, pick the 170 over the 172 purely for the fun factor.

Jim
 
Are you the 206 guy that was up at Spotted Bear, Mt a few years ago? If so, how goes it? My now ex wife and I were camping up there when you folks were up there fishing.
 
YES ! ! ! July 13, 2002. (Cheated - looked at my log book). Every time I see a low wing Bellanca I think of you and wonder how you are doing and what you are up to. Send me an email and we'll catch up. Jim valksidecar-chat@yahoo.com
 
Jim,

I'll shoot you a line and get you all caught up on life. I'm headed over to Idaho this weekend (if the smoke doesn't run us out). I make myself a promise every year that I'm going to spend all summer over in Idaho and Montana, as if Wyoming isn't good enough, and then I never keep it before it all burns up. I did sell the bellanca, as the old man wanted to part ways with the 170 since he was busy using his 180 too much to enjoy, and after being in the family for 35 years I couldn't let him do that to the airplane I came home from the hospital in as a new born, so maybe my kiddos can have it in 35 more years......anywho, I'll shoot you an email and get you up to speed. You ought to fly your new bird up this way when you've got nothing better to do.

Take care.
 
I have had only a Citabria for 7 years. I fly it from California to the upper penninsula of Michigan every spring, and back every fall. I land on and take off from small grass strips, fly aerobatics, and fly cross-countries. It is not speedy, but it can land on almost any field and still getout again. It can carry two normal sized people and baggage. It takes cross-winds very well; the most I have landed in is 22 knots. it is fun to fly and easy to land. It's a good teaching platform. If speed is not your goal, it is a good all around aircraft.
 
i got one it January of this year and have put on 80+hrs on it so far. i have flown the side-by-side classic planes but this to me is really the most fun i've had in a plane. truthfully i really do a lot of my flying on my own and don't go for huge xc trips in it yet. i've always wanted a tail-wheeled plane and it is reasonable for an average guy to own. visibility is great, ground handling is great, and of course super fun to fly. some days i wish i had more HP but it isn't often.(live with 9000ft. bumps around)
i hope to have some wheel covers for it soon.
 
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