Can any one tell me if the wide rear seat in a Citabria is wide enough for two small kids (about 75 lbs and 50 lbs, 9 year old/6 year old). Really would like to buy a Citabria or Champ for my next airplane, but the wife wants me to be able to take both kids flying at the same time. I mean, with the engine noise and the noise cancellation head set I figure I won't be able to hear their whining about touching each other and are we there yet... just need to know if I can stuff them in there.
Wide rear seat Citabria?
- Thread starter srd
- Start date
mike newall
New member
You will open a can of worms there regarding seats, restraints and legalities.
If you want something with character try the PA12. It is a legal 3 seater, 1 up front, 2 in the rear.
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=G-BSYG&distinct_entry=true
That's what it looks like - it's my brother's !
If you want something with character try the PA12. It is a legal 3 seater, 1 up front, 2 in the rear.
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=G-BSYG&distinct_entry=true
That's what it looks like - it's my brother's !
I'm a newly registered member but thought I could chime in on this. I had the wide rear seat in my 1980 Scout and, since enough years have passed to make prosecution unlikely, I can say that my then-14 yr. old and then 9 yr. old sons were able to sit rather comfortably for a 4+ hour flight from Anchorage to a Bering Sea village - and back home. Having said that, I would NOT do it again as it certainly can't be a legal option? As another post has noted, I too have seen a Scout with a 3rd seat somehow planted in the baggage compartment...which appears to me much more dangerous.
Its a single belt. Two people cannot wear the same belt legally.
Other than this fact, the only things to be concerned about when putting 2 kids in there are:
1) Weight and Balance (probably a no brainer since the kids have to be small)
2) Control Stick travel (they might be small legs but there are 4 of them.
Other than this fact, the only things to be concerned about when putting 2 kids in there are:
1) Weight and Balance (probably a no brainer since the kids have to be small)
2) Control Stick travel (they might be small legs but there are 4 of them.
I am new here also, but need to clear something up.
AOPA got a ruling from the FAA several years ago about sharing of seat belts. It was based on this very question- two kids sharing a seat.
The FAA ruling was that it is legal and permissable.
I had a Luscombe the time and would put my tow youngest next to me in one seat belt. They were 6 adn 4 at the time.
From the AOPA website "Child passengers
The seat belt requirement for children has been a subject for debate. It has always been the rule that a child under 2 years of age need not be fastened in a seat belt if the child is held by an adult who is properly secured by a seat belt. Older children are required to use a seat belt. But there is a little-known 1972 FAA interpretation, reaffirmed in 1990, that allows two children to share a seat belt. "As long as approved safety belts are carried aboard the aircraft for all occupants, and the structural strength requirements for the seats are not exceeded, the seating of two persons whose combined weights does not exceed 170 pounds under one safety belt where the belt can be properly secured around both persons would not be a violation of the regulations for an operation under Part 91."
I am considering buying a Citabria and putting a wide rear seat in it too.
AOPA got a ruling from the FAA several years ago about sharing of seat belts. It was based on this very question- two kids sharing a seat.
The FAA ruling was that it is legal and permissable.
I had a Luscombe the time and would put my tow youngest next to me in one seat belt. They were 6 adn 4 at the time.
From the AOPA website "Child passengers
The seat belt requirement for children has been a subject for debate. It has always been the rule that a child under 2 years of age need not be fastened in a seat belt if the child is held by an adult who is properly secured by a seat belt. Older children are required to use a seat belt. But there is a little-known 1972 FAA interpretation, reaffirmed in 1990, that allows two children to share a seat belt. "As long as approved safety belts are carried aboard the aircraft for all occupants, and the structural strength requirements for the seats are not exceeded, the seating of two persons whose combined weights does not exceed 170 pounds under one safety belt where the belt can be properly secured around both persons would not be a violation of the regulations for an operation under Part 91."
I am considering buying a Citabria and putting a wide rear seat in it too.
jerrymjr said:
I know this is an old thread but I'm new here. When I was a kid me and my sister used to ride around side by side in the back of my dad's Super Cub. Back in the 70's of course no one worried about if something like that was legal, but it was no problem.
Well a couple of months ago I did the same thing with my 7 year old and his school mate. Being the 21st century we were all concerned about it and my kid's mate's father used to be a flight crew seat design engineer for airbus. We discussed it and had the kids lean forward and see where their heads would hit in event of a sudden stop; they wouldn't hit the front seat. (the shoulder harness couldn't be used of course). Head strike this is called in the airline industry; always an issue with passenger seats. The rear stick comes out in the Super Cub, so that issue wasn't a problem. We never discussed a single belt over the two occupants, indeed I've thought this wasn't really a big issue.
The Citabria has more room than the Cub (as any Citabria owner will be quick to point out), so if there is a seat that is full width it sounds like is shouldn't be any problem. Does the rear stick come out in the Citabria like it does on the Cub?
Also here in New Zealand we have a three seat Super Cub (local mod) where two adults can sit side by side in the back. The top longerons (bottom of window on Cub) are pushed out and a wide seat installed. Again, no issues regarding stick clearance and that had a single belt across both occupants. I had a ride in one when I was a youngster and remember I couldn't make up my mind where to sit; on one side or in the middle!
Cheers,
Andrew.
Well a couple of months ago I did the same thing with my 7 year old and his school mate. Being the 21st century we were all concerned about it and my kid's mate's father used to be a flight crew seat design engineer for airbus. We discussed it and had the kids lean forward and see where their heads would hit in event of a sudden stop; they wouldn't hit the front seat. (the shoulder harness couldn't be used of course). Head strike this is called in the airline industry; always an issue with passenger seats. The rear stick comes out in the Super Cub, so that issue wasn't a problem. We never discussed a single belt over the two occupants, indeed I've thought this wasn't really a big issue.
The Citabria has more room than the Cub (as any Citabria owner will be quick to point out), so if there is a seat that is full width it sounds like is shouldn't be any problem. Does the rear stick come out in the Citabria like it does on the Cub?
Also here in New Zealand we have a three seat Super Cub (local mod) where two adults can sit side by side in the back. The top longerons (bottom of window on Cub) are pushed out and a wide seat installed. Again, no issues regarding stick clearance and that had a single belt across both occupants. I had a ride in one when I was a youngster and remember I couldn't make up my mind where to sit; on one side or in the middle!
Cheers,
Andrew.
As long as this thread came current again... My Vagaond came out of the factory in 1948 with a single belt for the 2 front (and only) seaters. Been that way ever since. Is it some sort of grandfathered thing?
If anyone is still looking to get the wide seat width, let me know and I'll check my 7ECA.
Jim
If anyone is still looking to get the wide seat width, let me know and I'll check my 7ECA.
Jim