Any opinions on whether a Citabria 7ECA would be suitable for flying into the back country.

Ideally, I would prefer a PA-18 Super Cub or PA-12 Super Cruiser. However my budget makes me think a 7ECA might be more practical.

Does it have fairly good STOL characteristics?
Can I easily mount floats on it?

Thanks for any thoughts.

JC - a 7ECA can work for you, just remember to fly it within its capabilities and as light as possible. Don't put it anywhere really short, in or out.

Floats are marginal but they can work on this airplane with light people. If any one of the two is heavy then getting on the step can be a challenge. Just one heavy person flying solo the floats are workable. A Champ on the other hand is better on floats.

Put VG's on the airplane, seaplane or climb prop. If on wheels run 8.50x6, Goodyear 26's or if you're feeling flush Bushwheels.

Straight skis only if you're using skis. Wheel skis wont work with the 115 hp - no flap set up.

Remember you only have 13 gal per side, not 18.


A really good backcountry Citabria has 160hp, VG's and flaps. 7GCBC.

Karmic timing ?!?

It was 24 years ago this October, twenty something, that I flew a 7ECA from Palo Alto to McCall Idaho to attend the first, that I know of, Mtn. flyin seminar that was put on with Lyn Clark and the 99s.

Only had Wx good enough to fly on one day. The 7ECA got us in and out of Johnson Cr., Big Cr., and Warrens before Wx drove us back to McCall.

So, yeah it can be done on a cool day with a light load.

BRD's suggestion of the 7GBC would be an ideal BC trainer if can swing it.
Either way, the 7ECA will give you a better start than ploughing with little wheel on the wrong end.

I still feel more at home in the center of an airplane with a stick than I do in my 170.

BRD said:

"Floats are marginal but they can work on this airplane with light people. If any one of the two is heavy then getting on the step can be a challenge. Just one heavy person flying solo the floats are workable. A Champ on the other hand is better on floats."

To carry TWO people in a Citabria on floats legally would require VERY light people. I've never met a Citabria on floats that could legally carry two more or less normal size people and any gas to speak of.

The ECA works fine on wheels for many things, and is a great little plane. It also will work fine on floats, but don't plan on carrying much in it in that configuration.

MTV

People, People, This thread is hours old and nobody has tried to sell him on a different airframe, where's the old spirit? Has it been beaten out of you?

Sell me on another airframe.

I'm eager to learn more...

a64pilot wrote:People, People, This thread is hours old and nobody has tried to sell him on a different airframe, where's the old spirit? Has it been beaten out of you?

Naw, if he's looking at a Citabria it means he's like the rest of us AIDS victims... Divorced and living under a freeway overpass, and dumpster diving behind Burger King for tonight's dinner. Mention Cessna 185 with IO-550 and the poor guy will go into psychic shock and do something crazy like buy an Ercoupe.

Have you no mercy Sir?

Gump

a64pilot wrote:People, People, This thread is hours old and nobody has tried to sell him on a different airframe, where's the old spirit? Has it been beaten out of you?

We're all licking our wounds from the Type Wars of the previous months. With some inspiring words though, I think we could have JC in a brand new M7 in a few pages.

GumpAir wrote:
Naw, if he's looking at a Citabria it means he's like the rest of us AIDS victims... Divorced and living under a freeway overpass, and dumpster diving behind Burger King for tonight's dinner. Mention Cessna 185 with IO-550 and the poor guy will go into psychic shock and do something crazy like buy an Ercoupe.

Have you no mercy Sir?

Gump

Gump,
Why did you have to go and tell about Burger King? Now I will have to go back to Jack in the crack.

JC

Go fly one, they are great little airplanes. It all depends on your needs, don't fool yourself into getting something you don't need.

It is much easier on your wallet to buy what you need not what you want.

I cant believe I just gave advise that I couldn't follow

mr scout wrote:I cant believe I just gave advise that I couldn't follow

No shit Floyd... Meet me under Exit 48 for 3 day old McDonald's?

Gump

Wait---you guys live somewhere they have BOTH a Big M Supper Club AND a Bugger King?? Dang, now that's a big city .

MTV

How about a Maule M4-220C.

I see them sometimes going for a similar price as the 7ECA.

Might it be a better suit for the mission?

mtv wrote:Wait---you guys live somewhere they have BOTH a Big M Supper Club AND a Bugger King?? Dang, now that's a big city .
MTV

As you well know, after Pepe's or the Pondu, ANYTHING is big city down here.

Gump

JC wrote:

How about a Maule M4-220C.

I have it on good authority that the M4-220 is the end-all be-all best aircraft ever built for doing anything, anywhere, for any reason. I'm too stupid to buy one, being afraid of the Franklin engine, but I'll admit that of all the Maule's, the M-4 is by far the best looking.

Despite their rabid following, I'd bet that the M-4 is a hell of a good plane for the right owner. Dollar for dollar it might be the best deal in backcountry transportation since the jackass.

If I was of the mindset to take on a Franklin engine and a lot of old fabric, I'd buy one in two heartbeats...if my wife would let me.

I'm as ignorant as a box of rocks, but I think a Citabria with a 150hp engine would be a pretty darn good BC airplane, and pretty cheap from what I've seen. Being able to fly upside down would be a whole lot of fun, and probably teach you a lot as well.

Ultimate CHEAP backcountry airplane? Probably an old Cessna 172 with a climb prop and every possible ounce stripped out of her. I've seen some good deals on Piper Pacer's as well.

Floats? I don't dare to even dream of them...

So what would a typical Backcountry Airstrip over there be like? Of the 200 odd strips I use here the shortest would be just under 300 metres and longest near 800 metres, most being one way. The heights would vary between just above sea level to nearly 5,000 amsl, with the average around 3,500.

Student Pilot wrote:So what would a typical Backcountry Airstrip over there be like? Of the 200 odd strips I use here the shortest would be just under 300 metres and longest near 800 metres, most being one way. The heights would vary between just above sea level to nearly 5,000 amsl, with the average around 3,500.

I'd be flying into the Adirondack Mountains. Highest peak is Mt. Marcy at 5,400 ft. Strips throughout the Adirondack Park seem to vary in size.

Most likely I'd be carrying in camping gear and 1 or both sons.

The idea of exentually putting floats and/or skis on it would increase the number of available landing/camping spots immensely.

(Not certain how much $ this will affect the insurance.)

Anyhow, I'm beginning to think the Maule M4 might fit this mission better but certainly open to other ideas. Would the Maule handle this best? Or possibly a C-170? PA-12? Those are the price ranges I would be shooting for. Hopefully $35-$40,000 for a decent TSMO plane.

Hey JC,

I am in NE PA, about 90 air miles away from you. One of the guys on my home field has a nice PA-12 for sale. He wants about $35K for it. It flies great with a 150 HP engine. We fly all over the Poconos with it going in and out of small grass strips.

The owner of the field has had a 7ECA for 20 plus years. He loves it.

You are welcome to come on down to Pegasus Airpark (50PA) or maybe we could schedule a group flight up to see you on Sunday morning. We are always looking for new places to go for breakfast!

Skystrider wrote:Hey JC,

You are welcome to come on down to Pegasus Airpark (50PA) or maybe we could schedule a group flight up to see you on Sunday morning. We are always looking for new places to go for breakfast!

That would be great.

Right now I am 30 hours into getting my PPL so I can't pay a visit for little a while.

However I'd certainly be willing to buy breakfast in exchange for a short ride or even just a look at it.

I fly out of KPOU which has a grass strip running parallel to the large paved 24.

I'll send you a PM with my info.

Tell me some more about that PA-12. TSMO? Condition?

Thanks.

Skystrider wrote:Hey JC,

One of the guys on my home field has a nice PA-12 for sale. He wants about $35K for it. It flies great with a 150 HP engine. We fly all over the Poconos with it going in and out of small grass strips.

Someone needs to buy that thing before the seller regains his senses, or has the airplane appraised! Up here PA-12s match the Supercub prices.

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:

Someone needs to buy that thing before the seller regains his senses, or has the airplane appraised! Up here PA-12s match the Supercub prices.[/quote]

Down here, not quite, but still that sounds like a real deal. Anything that even looks "Cubish" jacks up the price.