Hello from Portland, OR

donv

donv

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Messages
68
Location
Portland, OR
Thanks for setting this forum up!

I have a 2001 7GCAA, but first flew Citabrias when I did my tailwheel endorsement in a 7ECA back in 1985 or so. I've flown professionally off and on for years (mostly charter and business jets), although I'm not doing much professional flying at the moment.

I recently reinstated my CFI by taking a checkride in the Citabria, but I'm really just doing some instruction for my kids and their cousins. I'm hoping to get my kids their tailwheel endorsements right after they get their private certificates in a 150-- I couldn't find an instructor who both had time and was capable of giving primary instruction in the Citabria.
 
Welcome to the site Don, glad you found us!

Interesting that you reinstated your CFI with your Citabria, I like the sound of that!
 
Bartman said:
Welcome to the site Don, glad you found us!

Interesting that you reinstated your CFI with your Citabria, I like the sound of that!
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Me too. I would actually like a report of how the reinstatement ride went.
The DPE I was going to use let me know yesterday that he's currently grounded. Looking up another possibility today..
I've got exactly 0.0 from the back seat, so I'll probably rent something. But I would still like to read how it went
 
The reinstatement ride went very well, but I did a lot of preparation. I did it with Mary Schu at Aurora. She didn't have much (any?) Champ or Citabria time, but I think that was a plus for me. She went strictly by the table in the PTS for reinstatement, and covered every area. As a result, the oral was a few hours, and could have been longer except Aurora Aviation needed the room we were using.

The flight was very basic, again straight from the PTS. I told her that pylon 8s were a weak point for me, so she said we could do another ground reference maneuver. We did landings first, and then air work and ground reference maneuvers.

I think it was easier doing it in the Citabria than it would have been in a 150, for me anyway. There were a bunch of things I could teach which were specific to the airplane-- use of rudder at low speeds, for instance-- and it gave me confidence.

As for practice in the back seat, I flew from the back seat with several different pilot friends in the front seat. Only one of them had significant Champ/Citabria experience. Flying from the back is pretty easy, once you get used to s-turning while taxiing, and not being able to see straight ahead in the flare. It's good practice if you ever want to fly a warbird or biplane, though!
 
With a student up front, can you see the panel at all from the back seat? My CFI jokes that he occasionally gets a glimpse of about 1/4 of the Tach when I lean over to the right to check traffic, but otherwise, he's flying "IFJ" (translation: I follow Jim).
 
Some airplanes you can see airspeed, altimeter, and engine instruments. Usually cannot see the ball. You get used to it.

Glad you got it done. There is a shortage of good taildragger instructors. Be sure to teach full rudder slips.
 
In the Citabria (mine, anyway), you can see either the airspeed or the altimeter, but not both without moving your head a great deal. Tach is no problem (way off to the side), and ball really isn't an issue in the back seat either-- it's pretty easy to tell when you are not coordinated back there... much easier than in the front seat.
 
donv said:
The reinstatement ride went very well, but I did a lot of preparation. I did it with Mary Schu at Aurora. She didn't have much (any?) Champ or Citabria time, but I think that was a plus for me. She went strictly by the table in the PTS for reinstatement, and covered every area. As a result, the oral was a few hours, and could have been longer except Aurora Aviation needed the room we were using.

The flight was very basic, again straight from the PTS. I told her that pylon 8s were a weak point for me, so she said we could do another ground reference maneuver. We did landings first, and then air work and ground reference maneuvers.

I think it was easier doing it in the Citabria than it would have been in a 150, for me anyway. There were a bunch of things I could teach which were specific to the airplane-- use of rudder at low speeds, for instance-- and it gave me confidence.

As for practice in the back seat, I flew from the back seat with several different pilot friends in the front seat. Only one of them had significant Champ/Citabria experience. Flying from the back is pretty easy, once you get used to s-turning while taxiing, and not being able to see straight ahead in the flare. It's good practice if you ever want to fly a warbird or biplane, though!
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Funny, I was deep in the PTS the other day and became concerned for ground reference maneuvers. I'm okay turning near the ground but just the names of the maneuvers are enough to dig up memories of not being a Jedi at some of them when I took my ride.

I grabbed the FAA Flying Handbook and re-learned that there is a difference between 8's on Pylons (aka pylon 8's) and 8's around Pylons - and both are completely different than 8's on a road. There's nothing worse than worrying about what they're going to ask that I might be weak on, so I'm going to burn some gas learning them until the light goes on.

Also, thanks for confirming what I thought about flying from the back. For sure you'll have a better sense of turn coordination. By having the front seater lean to the right just a bit I can see the airspeed indicator in the Citabria

And now I recall when I was getting my tail wheel endorsement and mountain flying training. There were two very tight approaches where I had everything set up perfectly and heard my instructor say "I don't think we're going to make it", and another where the climb performance was so poor in the high DA conditions that I cleared the trees by maybe 5' on departure and he didn't say anything until they passed by. Even then he only said "Engine, don't quit on us now".

Since one of the planes I fly is a war bird I have always had it in my mind to get comfortable flying from the back seat. In prepping for this season I sat in back getting all the canopy glass clean when I decided to see what it would look like from back there. If anything I can see better from the back! I don't know what the hell my passengers have been complaining about - they can see better than I can.
 
Depending on when you did your commercial training, you may never have done 8s on pylons. Mary (the DPE) said that they were in the commercial PTS in the 70s, taken out for the 80s, and back in the 90s. I did my commercial/CFI in the 80s, so it turns out that there was a reason why I didn't know how to do one!

I think it's a fairly useless, and arguably dangerous, maneuver.
 
donv said:
Thanks for setting this forum up!

I have a 2001 7GCAA, but first flew Citabrias when I did my tailwheel endorsement in a 7ECA back in 1985 or so. I've flown professionally off and on for years (mostly charter and business jets), although I'm not doing much professional flying at the moment.

I recently reinstated my CFI by taking a checkride in the Citabria, but I'm really just doing some instruction for my kids and their cousins. I'm hoping to get my kids their tailwheel endorsements right after they get their private certificates in a 150-- I couldn't find an instructor who both had time and was capable of giving primary instruction in the Citabria.
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Donv,

Have you been doing any instruction? I am hoping to purchase a 7GCBC by the end of this week, I don't have quite 50 hrs in tailwheel time most of that time has been in Champ, 8CKAB aircraft. I will be looking for an instructor in the area familiar with the citabria, to do a little flying and practicing some landings. If you are available let me know the plane will be based out of KSPB, and if you are not if you have any recommendations I would appreciate it. Thanks
 
Rick said:
Donv,

Have you been doing any instruction? I am hoping to purchase a 7GCBC by the end of this week, I don't have quite 50 hrs in tailwheel time most of that time has been in Champ, 8CKAB aircraft. I will be looking for an instructor in the area familiar with the citabria, to do a little flying and practicing some landings. If you are available let me know the plane will be based out of KSPB, and if you are not if you have any recommendations I would appreciate it. Thanks
Click to expand...
 
Rick ,, are you at Scappoose ? I am just up on the hill ,,, I have a carbon cub now but looking at new scouts. how are you liking your plane?


Bart g
 
It’s a great plane! So far no complaints it’s fun to fly handles great. I haven’t had the chance to take it many places yet but hopefully next year will not be as busy for me. Yes, I keep it at Scappoose. You say up the hill, as in the private strip just south?
 
I am Grabhorns… I am one mile west of the 15 numbers, strip runs north south, must land to south , TO to north. good smooth turf strip, I have flown around here 40 years and would love to fly with ya some day. I try to make the EAA breakfast at Starks and some Sundays go to Flying M. Mostly just knock around low and slow with the cub. I flew a 7ECA a bunch back in the 70's and always thought what a great little plane. I am on the hunt for a new ride, either FX carbon cub, X cub, or Scout..... stop by if you are out and about. I live here right at the end of the strip. it is longer than it looks a good 1800 ft. slopes up a tad on landing, there is a cedar hedge along the west side of strip.
 
I know where your at, I’ve got a friend just down the road from you. I usually drive by pretty slow admiring your set up! I miss being able to walk out my door and hop in my plane. Last Saturday was my first time making it to Twin Oaks for breakfast, for the Wx I was impressed with the turn out. Where is Flying M? I’ve just recently moved back to Oregon after being gone for 20 years.
 
ya the month before was super nice weather and lots of cool planes..... my cub was Bob Starks demo plane at Twin oak. Fly M is about 7 miles straight west of Yamhill. it was a lodge back in the 70's and 80's. it got sold off but the prevous owners at least as far as I know still cooks a cowboy breakfast for any and all that come out sunday am. you got to be there early or you miss out. I did hear her husband passed away and I have not been out there since. she may have hung up her apron. Super nice folks. sort of short strip but doable. My cub is down right now with a busted jury strut bracket. I ordered one from
Cub crafters but should have just drove out to Starks ,,, there most likely had in stock
 
good breakfast at hood river, park on west end and walk across rd. wind is an issue somedays, packwood in Washington is a nice flight and walk into town.... I have a friend that is all about flying to Seaside and said restaurant close by. Coast weather and narrow strip there.... The best is down at Indepenace. but sure there are other cool spots. no one cares if you land at Daybreak over in Lacenter. easy smooth grass strip. we get some better weather hit me up and we go fly
 
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