Citabria Aurora Manual
This article needs additional citations for. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2009) Citabria Role Light and sports plane Manufacturer Designer First flight 1964 Introduction 1964 Status In Production Number built over 5238 The Citabria is a light single-engine, two-seat, fixed which entered production in the United States in 1964. Designed for, and personal use, it is capable of sustaining stresses from +5g to -2. Its name spelled backwards, 'airbatic', reflects this.
Contents. Production history The Citabria was designed and initially produced by Corporation, and was a derivative of designs the company had been building since acquiring the 7-series from in 1954. The model 7ECA Citabria entered production at Champion in 1964. The 7GCAA and 7GCBC variants, added in 1965, were joined by the 7KCAB in 1968. In 1970, Champion was acquired by, which continued production of all of the Champion-designed variants. Bellanca introduced two designs with close connections to the Citabria: The and the.
Production at Bellanca ended in 1980 and the company's assets were liquidated in 1982. The Citabria designs passed through the hands of a number of companies through the 1980s, including a which was no relation to the Champion Aircraft of the 1960s. In that period, only one Citabria model was built—a 7GCBC marketed as 'Citabria 150S.' Acquired the Citabria, Decathlon, and Scout designs in 1989 and returned the 7ECA, 7GCAA, and 7GCBC models to production over a period of years.
Design The Citabria traces its lineage back to the Champ. The most noticeable external changes to the design are the Citabria's squared-off surface, wingtips, and rear windows. Like the Champ, the Citabria features tandem seating. The and tail surfaces are constructed of welded metal tubing. The outer shape of the fuselage is created by a combination of wooden and, covered with fabric. The cross-section of the metal fuselage truss is triangular, a design feature which can be traced all the way back to the earliest design of the late 1920s. 1980-built Bellanca 7ECA Citabria The strut-braced of the Citabria are, like the fuselage and tail surfaces, fabric covered, utilizing aluminum.
Most Citabrias were built with wooden. American Champion has been using aluminum spars in the aircraft it has produced and has, as well, made the aluminum-spar wings available for retrofit installation on older aircraft. The landing gear of the Citabria is in a. The main gear legs of most Citabrias are made of spring steel, though American Champion began to use aluminum gear legs in 2004. Early Citabrias were fitted with a steel tube main gear which uses an oleo strut for shock absorption. All of the variants are discussed in more detail below.
Operational history. A Champion 7GCAA Citabria towing a sailplane When the Citabria was introduced, it was the only airplane being commercially produced in the United States which was certified for aerobatics. Citabrias were also popular as trainers—because of their conventional gear and their aerobatic capabilities—and as personal aircraft. They were also found in utility roles as —thanks to their ability, pipeline patrol, and as. Though variants of the design, and other better-suited designs have largely taken over the Citabria's utility roles, Citabrias remain popular as trainers, glider towplanes, and for personal use. Variants 7ECA, Citabria Standard, Citabria Aurora. 7ECA at Introduced in 1964, the 7ECA was the first version of the design and utilized the engine of 100 horsepower (75 kW).
When introduced, it featured wood-spar wings and main gear. Within the first year of production, Champion began offering the engine of 115 horsepower (86 kW) as an alternative to the Continental. In 1967, Champion switched to main gear legs; by then, the Lycoming engine had become the standard. On acquiring the design, Bellanca gave this model the name Citabria 'Standard' and began using the 115 horsepower (86 kW) Lycoming O-235-K2C engine. When American Champion reintroduced the 7ECA in 1995 as the Citabria 'Aurora, ' the biggest change was the use of metal-spar wings; the most recent significant design change has been the switch to aluminum main gear legs in 2004. 7GCAA, Citabria 150, Citabria 'A' Package, Citabria Adventure.
Bellanca 7GCAA Introduced in 1965, the Champion 7GCAA, like the 7ECA, featured wood-spar wings and oleo-shock main gear. The major difference was in the engine, which in the 7GCAA was a of 150 horsepower (110 kW). Champion switched to spring steel main gear legs in 1967. Bellanca continued production of the 7GCAA as the Citabria 'A' Package (a designation apparently begun by Champion), but with no significant design changes.
American Champion's 7GCAA, reintroduced in 1997 as the Citabria 'Adventure,' is similar to earlier versions, with the exception of the metal-spar wings and the use of the Lycoming O-320-B2B engine of 160 horsepower (120 kW); the most recent significant design change has been the switch to aluminum main gear legs in 2004. An 'Ultimate Adventure' version, with a engine of 180 horsepower (130 kW) and a, is also produced by American Champion. 7GCBC, Citabria 150s, Citabria 'C' Package, Citabria Explorer.
Bellanca 7GCBC Champion introduced the 7GCBC in 1965. It was substantially similar to the 7GCAA of the same year, with a Lycoming O-320-A2B engine of 150 horsepower (110 kW), wood-spar wings, and spring steel main gear legs. The major differences between these two models are that the 7GCBC has a wingspan of 34.5 feet (10.5 m), 1-foot (0.30 m) longer than the 7ECA and 7GCAA, and carries wing. Bellanca continued production of the 7GCBC, calling it the Citabria 'C' Package (a designation apparently begun by Champion). American Champion's 7GCBC, reintroduced in 1994 as the Citabria 'Explorer,' is similar to earlier versions, with the exception of the metal-spar wings and the use of the Lycoming O-320-B2B of 160 horsepower (120 kW); the most recent significant design change has been the switch to aluminum main gear legs in 2004. A 'High Country Explorer' version, with a Superior Vantage O-360-A3A2 engine of 180 horsepower (130 kW) and larger wheels, is also produced by American Champion. 7KCAB, Citabria 'B' Package.
Bellanca 7KCAB Champion introduced the 7KCAB in 1968. It was substantially similar to the 7GCAA of the same year, with wood-spar wings and spring steel main gear legs.
The major differences between the7GCAA and 7KCAB were in the fuel system and the engine oil system. The engine was replaced with a Lycoming IO-320-E2A of 150 horsepower (110 kW), while a header tank of 1.5 gallons—located beneath the instrument panel—was added to the fuel system. In addition, the was replaced with a system, and a inverted oil system was fitted to the engine. All of these changes were made in order to allow for extended inverted flight, a mode not possible in the earlier models. Bellanca continued production of the 7KCAB as the Citabria 'B' Package (a designation apparently begun by Champion). Citabria Pro The Citabria Pro was tested by Champion in 1968, but was never put into production at Champion nor by Bellanca which acquired the company and designs only a short time later. The Citabria Pro was based on the 7KCAB, but with a vertically shortened fuselage, a wing of semi-symmetric mounted in a parasol configuration, and a unique engine, the Lycoming IO-360SPL.
While it was flown as a single-seat, there was a second set of controls and room for a second seat. The design changes were intended to produce an aircraft capable of more complex maneuvers and better performance in inverted flight. Sources conflict over whether the Citabria Pro was assigned model number 8KCAB or 9KCAB. Since the 8KCAB designation ultimately belonged to the design, which was in development at Champion at the same time, it is unlikely that it was used for the Citabria Pro. Military operators The 7GCBC Citabria was used as an observation aircraft by the. One of these aircraft is displayed at the in.
Specifications (7GCAA Citabria). Citabria in flight Data from FAA Type certificate Data Sheet, The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage and Pilot Friend General characteristics. Crew: one. Capacity: one passenger.: NACA 4412. Empty weight: 1,140 lb (517 kg). Gross weight: 1,650 lb (748 kg).
Fuel capacity: 39 U.S. Gallons (150 L; 32 imp gal). Powerplant: 1 × four cylinder, aircraft engine, 150 hp (110 kW). Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch Performance. Maximum speed: 130 mph; 209 km/h (113 kn).
Cruise speed: 125 mph; 202 km/h (109 kn). Stall speed: 49 mph; 80 km/h (43 kn).: 162 mph (261 km/h; 141 kn). Range: 473 mi; 761 km (411 nmi). Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,200 m).
Rate of climb: 1,120 ft/min (5.7 m/s) See also Related development. Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era. Clipped-wing. Swick Clipped-wing. References. Archived from on 2014-08-17.
Retrieved 2014-06-17. (9 February 2011). Retrieved 17 April 2017. Lednicer, David (2010).
Retrieved 15 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017. Aircraft specification no. 3, 2005.) Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration.
Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. Retrieved 2006-08-12. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. From the original on 15 August 2006.
Citabria Aurora For Sale
Retrieved 2006-08-12. John deere 5610 service manual. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. From the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-12. Aerofiles: A Century of American Aviation. From the original on 20 July 2006.
Retrieved 2006-08-12. Bellanca Aircraft Corporation (1978). Pilot's operating manual: Bellanca Citabria, 1975-1977 Series.
Bellanca Aircraft Corporation. Dirnberger, Joel.
Citabria Aurora Review
A Brief History of the Citabria Pro. Retrieved 2006-09-10. Gilbert, James. 'Champion Citabria: pilot report.' Flying, pp. 57–60.
Gilbert, James. 'And in this corner, the champ: a pilot report on the Champion Citabria.' Flying, pp. 36–41. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to.