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understanding differences in Citabria models
- Thread starter ppettis
- Start date
Although you didn't say how far you want to go back in history, here's how they are sorted:
7ECA - 100 or 108/115 hp (O-200 in early ones, O-235 later), no flaps.
7GCAA - 150 hp (O-320) - no flaps
7GCBC - 150 hp (O-320) - with flaps
Oh, yeah, Bellanca made the 7ACA - Franklin 60 hp two-cylinder. Don't buy one!
The gross weight is the same on all models, so generally speaking, the ECA has the best useful load but the weakest take-off and climb performance. 600 fpm on an average day is about all you'll see.
Climb is in the 1000 fpm (1200-1300 solo) for the 150 hp models. Full fuel payload is low, though; around 300 pounds for the GCBC. The flaps are OK to have but add weight. They aren't a whole lot faster but do burn more gas.
Older model numbers differed but, I don't know if these were called Citabrias. There were the 7GCA and 7GCB that I know of. I have a 7(FC/)EC but it's a Champion. Champion also made the 7GC - a 135 hp model.
Early Citabrias of all stripes had the oleo gear and the square tail. I saw a spriing-gear, round-tail example but, I believe it was a modified Champion.
There are the Decathlons, too - 7KCAB series - and the Scout 8GCBC (I want one!). There may be a 7KCxx Citabria, also; a fore-runner to the Decathlon. The Scout has a 2150 gross weight and 180 hp. Some of the Decathlons (Super D's) have 180 hp and CS prop. Wings are different (semi-eliptical) on the Decathlons also, for inverted flight.
A disclaimer about speed - to get better performance from the ECA, a climb prop is often installed. With that, they cruise at 90-95 mhp. You can put a coarser prop on the 150 hp model and go 120+ if you like to turn gas into noise and fun. Pull the power and mixture back on an ECA and you can fly for 6-8 hours to bust your bladder.
All models can be flown upside down and such but generally, only the KCxx models are equipped with inverted fuel and oil (and not all of *them* have it).
Jon B.
7ECA - 100 or 108/115 hp (O-200 in early ones, O-235 later), no flaps.
7GCAA - 150 hp (O-320) - no flaps
7GCBC - 150 hp (O-320) - with flaps
Oh, yeah, Bellanca made the 7ACA - Franklin 60 hp two-cylinder. Don't buy one!
The gross weight is the same on all models, so generally speaking, the ECA has the best useful load but the weakest take-off and climb performance. 600 fpm on an average day is about all you'll see.
Climb is in the 1000 fpm (1200-1300 solo) for the 150 hp models. Full fuel payload is low, though; around 300 pounds for the GCBC. The flaps are OK to have but add weight. They aren't a whole lot faster but do burn more gas.
Older model numbers differed but, I don't know if these were called Citabrias. There were the 7GCA and 7GCB that I know of. I have a 7(FC/)EC but it's a Champion. Champion also made the 7GC - a 135 hp model.
Early Citabrias of all stripes had the oleo gear and the square tail. I saw a spriing-gear, round-tail example but, I believe it was a modified Champion.
There are the Decathlons, too - 7KCAB series - and the Scout 8GCBC (I want one!). There may be a 7KCxx Citabria, also; a fore-runner to the Decathlon. The Scout has a 2150 gross weight and 180 hp. Some of the Decathlons (Super D's) have 180 hp and CS prop. Wings are different (semi-eliptical) on the Decathlons also, for inverted flight.
A disclaimer about speed - to get better performance from the ECA, a climb prop is often installed. With that, they cruise at 90-95 mhp. You can put a coarser prop on the 150 hp model and go 120+ if you like to turn gas into noise and fun. Pull the power and mixture back on an ECA and you can fly for 6-8 hours to bust your bladder.
All models can be flown upside down and such but generally, only the KCxx models are equipped with inverted fuel and oil (and not all of *them* have it).
Jon B.