Champion 7-series Citabria
10 models built 1964–present · 2,211 on the US register today
The Citabria — aerobatic spelled backwards — designed by Champion Aircraft in 1964 as the aerobatic development of the Champ and built in turn by Champion (1964-70), Bellanca (1970-80) and American Champion (1990 on), which is why the same models appear in the registry under all three names. The 7ECA is the 100-118 hp entry model; the 7GCAA the 150/160 hp version without flaps; the 7GCBC the 150/160 hp version with flaps and a longer wing; the 7KCAB has a fuel-injected engine and inverted systems. American Champion aircraft have metal wing spars where the earlier ones had wood.
The variants
| MODEL | YEARS | ACTIVE | TAILFAX SCORE | WHAT CHANGED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7ECA | 1964–1980 | 347 | 31.7/50 | Same aircraft built by Bellanca (1970-80) |
| 7GCBC | 1964–1980 | 487 | 29.9/50 | Same aircraft built by Bellanca (1970-80) |
| 7ECA | 1964–1970 | 419 | 31.7/50 | Citabria Standard: 100-118 hp |
| 7GCAA (CONV) | 1965–1970 | 1 | — | Registry spelling for a converted 7GCAA |
| 7GCAA | 1965–1970 | 114 | 33.9/50 | Citabria 150/Adventure: 150-160 hp, no flaps |
| 7GCBC | 1965–1970 | 144 | 29.9/50 | Citabria 150S/Explorer: flaps, longer wing |
| 7KCAB | 1968–1980 | 230 | 29.8/50 | Same aircraft built by Bellanca (1970-80) |
| 7GCAA | 1970–1980 | 118 | 33.9/50 | Same aircraft built by Bellanca (1970-80) |
| 7GCBC | 1990–present | 232 | 29.9/50 | American Champion production: 160 hp, metal spars (1994 on) |
| 7GCAA | 1995–present | 119 | 33.9/50 | American Champion production: 160 hp, metal spars (1995 on) |
Family fleet, active
2,211
FAA registry
NTSB events / 1,000, 10 yrs
46.6
103 events over 2,211 active aircraft, pooled across the family
Successor
Data as of: FAA registry Sep 28 · NTSB Oct 2 · scores Sep 30