American Champion Citabria
American Champion · United States · first flew 1964 · light aircraft
The American Champion Citabria is a fabric-covered tandem two-seat aerobatic taildragger, its name being 'airbatic' spelled backwards.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.91 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Slim fabric-covered high wing with tandem seating
- Strut-braced wing over a trim taildragger stance
- Frequently seen looping and rolling at displays
Identify it by the trim fabric high-wing taildragger silhouette with tandem seating; the longer flapped wing marks out the 7GCBC from the lighter 7ECA.
Specifications
- The American Champion Citabria has a length of 6.91 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.19 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 209 km/h (130 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the Aeronca Champ line, the Citabria entered production in 1964 for training, utility and sport aerobatics. Its blend of docile handling and a stressed airframe rated for positive and negative g made it a popular entry to aerobatic flying.
Variants
The 7ECA is the lighter flapless model on a Continental O-200 or Lycoming O-235, while the 7GCBC Explorer adds a longer flapped wing and more power. The family later expanded into the Decathlon and Scout.
Where you'll see it
A well-known aerobatic and tailwheel trainer in the UK, the Citabria is operated by aerobatic schools and private owners for spin and upset training and sport flying, more specialised than a basic club trainer but far from rare.
Related aircraft
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