Main differnece between Champion 7EC & 7GCA ?

A

Augusto Rosas

New member
I would like to find out what means if someone say that the airplane was converted from the model 7EC to 7GCA ? Since my principal interest it is to buy an airplane for aerobatic flight, can someone tell me if the above model can be used for that purpose?
 
The primary difference can be summed to one word:

Power!

The 7EC is pulled aloft by a COntinental C-90 engine. The GCA
originally had a Lycoming O-290D 125 hp. I think. It may be a D2
model, with 135 hp. Either way, it's significantly more potent than
the 90.

The gross weight may also be higher. The EC has a 1450 gross
weight. The GCA may be 1650, same as the Citabria. Please don't
quote me on that; I have a 7EC not a GCA.

Either model can do limited acro stuff. The bigger engine will offer
more vertical performance, adn a quicker return to altitude after
losing it to spins and such.

If you're looking for *real* acro, get a 7KCAB or 8KCAB. Inverted oil
& fuel and a semi-eliptical wing.

Have fun!

Edit: Hmmm... I may have erred. The O-290 was in the 7GC model.
I think the GCA was the fore-runner to the GCAA - 150 hp O-320
engine, no flap, flat-bottom wing. The GCAA is a decent mild acro
ship. I've not flown the GCA.

The type certificate has all the pertinent data:

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0
/fa4a065b3839e1b28525672e0045ca41/$FILE/a-759.pdf

Jon B.
 
the 7GC heralded in the new Citabrias. with its 1650 gross weight. Wings are similar but the fuselage is beefier on the 7GC.

The 7GC came with a 135 HP O-290 but the 7GCA was the same airplane with a O-320 with 150 HP.
 
Thanks,
Was very helpfull the Aircraft specifications N-759 document . After I read about the specifications of he model 7GCBC , I learn that it is aproved for aerobatic maneuvers as well as the 7KCAB, but it is not recomended for inverted flight. I would like to know if it is possible to convert the model to the full aerobatic version to don't have this limitation. And also how much, someone can tell me may cost to convert the airplane to be IFR certify if it only come with the basic original instruments for VFR. I found a 1979 Citabria 7GCBC with low time at 42k , and I would appreciate any advise.
 
Augusto:

For serious acro, you'll want the KCAB. The wing is designed for
acrobatics; as in semi-symmetrical. It doesn't mind inverted flight.

The GCBC *can* fly upside down, but the attitude will be radically
different from the KCAB, due to the wing.

I think the inverted oil system is readily adaptable but you'll run
into trouble with the fuel system. The KCAB has either a pressure
carburetor or is fuel injected. Its inverted flight is limited to something like two minutes.

If you're looking for a short-field puddle-jumper, buy a 7GCBC or
8GCBC Scout.

If you're intending all-out acro, the Decathlon's the route to take.

Jon B.
 
I might note that the 7KCAB has the same airfoil as the 7GCBC and also has the same limitations. You likely, meant this, but just wanted to clear that up.

Only the 8KCAB (decathlon) has a different airfoil than all the rest.
 
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