New member from North Carolina looking for information

Golf Sierra

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Aug 10, 2019
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Greetings,
I have recently purchased a 1968 7ECA Citabria. I have a issue that I would like to share to see if anyone has a similar problem and possibly a remedy.
In straight and level flight, it requires quite a bit of nose down trim. I can look back at the elevator and see a substantial (in my opinion) deflection to fly level. It would seem to me that I have excessive tail down force for some reason or the horizontal stab incidence is forcing the tail down.
If anyone has experience with this, any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
 

Bob Turner

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Apr 4, 2018
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How fast is it? If you are getting 100 mph with cruise power, I would guess all is well.
 

Bob Turner

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This is the 115 hp Champ? Yes, something is wrong. Once in a while,airspeed indicators are inaccurate - check with a GPS before you re-rig or overhaul. What rpm do you get at full throttle 60 mph climb?

All of this depends on good instruments. Tachometers are notoriously inaccurate. Worse, I cannot remember parameters of the 68 I used to fly, so somebody else will have to chime in with numbers. I do remember being impressed with its speed.
 

B737jenkins

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Jun 10, 2019
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I have a 1968 7ECA with a Lycoming 0-235. I would check your tach with an optical tach. In cruise at 2450, we get right about 100 mph.
 

Bartman

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I forget the exact RPM setting but my 1968 7ECA was indicating about 105 mph

There is a range for the prop's pitch from climb to cruise, it should be stamped on the face of the prop hub I believe. I don't know what speeds correspond to the pitch values. My prop is being overhauled unless they lost it, it's been a few months and I haven't heard from them!
 

aftCG

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Apr 3, 2018
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Tacoma, WA
Elevators deflected significantly in level flight is normal for a Citabria. No doubt it's creating some induced drag that could have been accounted for with different incidence in the horizontal stabilizer. But it wasn't, so here we are.

Really only answering because to say "that ain't it".
 

Bartman

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I would guess some down elevator is normal when the back seat is empty because it's compensating for the more forward CG. put a 200 lb person back there and there would probably be a lot less down elevator.

85 mph is definitely slow though unless it's a climb prop at the far end of the pitch range, then maybe but not sure