Traildraggers

Cubs and Champs

2 very popular groups of aircraft: cubs and champs.

  • Champ is nearly a foot shorter than the Cub, but the cabin area is longer and wider.
  • Champ offers far better visibility than the Cub.
  • Champ's gear is four inches narrower.
  • Champ’s tail is a lot heavier to lift.
  • Champ is less bouncing during landing. (Easier to land.)

Cubs

Taylor Cub (1930) => Taylor J-2 Cub (1935) => Piper J-3 Cub (1938) => PA-11 Cub Special (1947) => Piper PA-18 Super Cub (1949) => CubCrafter / Aviate Husky etc.

Piper PA-18 Super Cub

The Piper Super Cub has been considered by many to be the ultimate backcountry airplane.

CubCrafters

https://cubcrafters.com/

  • CarbonCub
    • Carbon Cub SS (production Light Sport Aircraft, 2007),
    • Carbon Cub FX (Builder Assist / Experimental Amateur Built (E-AB))
    • Carbon Cub EX (aircraft kit)
  • XCub (2016) / NXCub (N for Nosewheel, 2020): developed from Carbin Cub.
    • Engine: IO390, also used in Cirrus SR20,Tecnam P2010.
  • TopCub (classic)

Champ

  • Champ => Citabria
  • Champion Lancer => Decathlon, Scout

(Citabria = "airbatic" spelled backwards.)

Companies

Aeronca Aircraft => Champion Aircraft Company (1950s and 1960s) => Bellanca (1960s and 1970s) => American Champion Aircraft (early 2000s)

  • Aeronca ceased all production of light aircraft in 1951, and the Champ design was sold in 1954 to Champion Aircraft.
  • Champion Aircraft was acquired in 1970 by Bellanca Aircraft.
  • American Champion Aircraft Corporation acquired the Champ and related designs in 1989.

Models

Champs

  • 7AC Champs (1940s), response to the popular Piper J-3 Cub. Continental A-65-8 engine of 65 horsepower (48 kW).
  • 7ACA: basic, the least expensive, and lowest-performance, commercially produced light plane on the market at the time.
  • 7DC: Continental C85 engine of 85 hp (63 kW).
  • 7EC Traveler: Continental C90-12F engine of 90 horsepower (67 kW), or Continental O-200-A engine of 100 horsepower (75 kW) for newer ones after 2007.

Citabria

  • 7ECA, Citabria Aurora, 118HP
  • 7GCAA, Citabria Adventure, 160HP
  • 7GCBC
    • Citabria EXPLORER, 160HP
    • Citabria HIGH COUNTRY EXPLORER, 180HP

Adventure and Explorer have the same engine and same fuel capacity; Explorer has larger wings; Explorer is slightly heavier (due to the larger wings), but has the same useful load as Adventure.

High Country Explorer has the same wings as Explorer, but with more power engine and larger propellers.s

Decathlon and Scout

  • 8KCAB Decathlon: The Decathlon line features an inverted fuel and oil system. Experience the world upside down!
  • 8GCBC Scout: The Scout line is known for its short takeoff and landing (STOL) ability. Categorized as normal.

Still in production: https://www.americanchampionaircraft.com/