• READ MORE: American Champion Citabria, Super Decathlon, Scout

With docile ground handling, the Citabria is often used as a tailwheel trainer and is a fantastic way to get into tailwheel flying. In the air, the fun doesn’t stop, as the 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320 sports an inverted oil system that enables extended aerobatic flight. 

This particular Citabria has undergone extensive renovations, including new engine components, rebuilt landing gear and brakes, and an entirely refreshed interior with new carpet, upholstery, and headliner. Perhaps most significantly, all fabric was replaced in 2001 with Polyfiber—a job worth tens of thousands of dollars that will likely last for many decades.

With 1,115 hours on the airframe and engine since major overhaul, the airframe time is relatively low, and the engine is halfway to its 2,000-hour TBO, which should also provide many years of trouble-free ownership. With no damage history and complete logbooks, this Citabria looks to be an exceptionally clean and well-sorted entry into fun aerobatic and tailwheel ownership.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 2004 Maule MXT-7-180A

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1965 American Champion 7ECA Citabria

It just looks like fun sitting there on the ramp. The Citabria (that’s “airbatic” spelled backwards) speaks to pilots who want to test out their skills in aerobatic flying, or just have fun flying low and slow with friends into grass strips. American Champion is still making the series, but the original offers up a good deal for the right pilot.

This 1965 Citabria comes with its last Poly-Fiber recovering accomplished in 2002-2004, with rebuilt wings and a new wood spar in 2004 as well. The aircraft has 1,173 hours on it, with the Continental O-200 clocking 837 hours since major overhaul. The seller says it’s flown 48 hours in the last 6 months, making it far from a hangar queen. It has a uAvionix skyBeacon for ADS-B compliance.

For an asking price of $45,000, this Visalia, California-based tailwheel star can be yours.

READ MORE: American Champion Citabria, Super Decathlon, Scout

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Need help financing your dream? Visit our professional team at FLYING Finance for the best way to back your aircraft acquisition plan.

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Citabria	Citabria Explorer
STANDARD DATA: Citabria Aurora Seats 2. Gross wt. 1,750. Empty wt. 1,120. Fuel capacity 36. Engine 118-hp Lycoming O-235-K2C. PERFORMANCE: Top Cruise 109 KTAS. Initial climb rate 740 fpm. Ceiling 11,500. Stall 47 kts. Takeoff distance ground roll 650′. Landing distance roll 520′.	STANDARD DATA: Citabria Adventure/Explorer Seats 2. Gross wt. 1,750/1,800. Empty wt. 1,200/ 1,250. Fuel capacity 36. Engine 160-hp Lycoming O-320-B2B. PERFORMANCE: Top Cruise 127 KTAS. Initial climb rate 1,167/1,130 fpm. Ceiling 15,000/15,500. Stall 47/42 kts. Takeoff distance ground roll 430/412′. Landing distance roll 480/360′.
Super Decathlon	Scout
STANDARD DATA: Super Decathlon Seats 2. Gross wt. 1,950. Empty wt. 1,340. Fuel capacity 40. Engine 180-hp Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B. PERFORMANCE: Top Cruise 142 KTAS. Initial climb rate 1,280 fpm. Ceiling 15,800. Stall 48 kts. Takeoff distance ground roll 495. Landing distance roll 425′.	STANDARD DATA: Scout Seats 2. Gross wt. 2,150. Empty wt. 1,400. Fuel capacity 36-72. Engine 180-hp Lycoming O-360-C1G. PERFORMANCE: Top Cruise 109 KTAS. Initial climb rate 1,075 fpm. Ceiling 17,000. Stall 45 kts. Takeoff distance ground roll 490′. Landing distance roll 420′.

American Champion became somewhat of a legend when it rescued the Bellanca Super Decathlon from extinction. The company now owns the type certificate to the Model 7 and Model 8 Champion Line (Champs, Challengers, Citabrias, Decathlons, Scouts). American Champion switched to metal wing spars, replacing the wooden ones championed by Giuseppe Bellanca, and now manufactures five models of the distinctive high wing aircraft—three Citabrias, the Aurora, Adventure and Explorer, as well as the Super Decathlon and Scout. American Champion aircraft are popular as tailwheel trainers, aerobatic trainers as well as backcountry bush aircraft.

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