Hello from Vermont

R

rmac

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2018
Messages
6
Location
Vermont
Now that I’ve posted a couple of times, maybe I should introduce myself.

I got my ticket in the mid-70’s, and over the years I’ve been fortunate to own a 172, 182, 210 and now a Bonanza that I’ve had for just about 25 years. Most of my flying has been point A to point B with a decent amount of time in the clouds.

However, I am recently retired, and I’m pining for a different kind of aviation. I’ll want something that’s fun to fly and won’t break the bank. I’m interested in tailwheel because it would push me to improve my stick-and-rudder game, something that’s never been my strong suit. I’m also powerfully drawn to back country flying. I used to do a fair amount of backpacking, and I miss the peace of being miles from trailhead in a sleeping bag beneath a star-soaked Milky Way, or resting against a sun-warmed boulder above treeline. As the years go by, I’m less and less likely to get to such places using hiking boots, but I could still do it in the right plane.

I don’t know what my next ride will be, but I’ve heard enough about Champs and their ilk to believe that one of them could be the ticket. I’m mostly here to learn but will contribute as I can.

Rick
 
The Champ is the inexpensive way. Needs twice as much runway as a Cub. Costs half as much.
 
Twice as much?

Hi Rick and welcome to the site. I shopped for a Cub for about six months and wasted a pretty good amount of time and money in the process. Then I saw an experimental Cub with an O-235 and thought maybe that was the way to go but it quickly turned out to be an oddball.

Then I realized, Citabrias have the same engine and they're certified, are day and night VFR, have a lot of standard features that would be considered upgrades in a Cub, can fly with the door off, are about 40 mph faster with much more range, and CAN DO ACRO! Sold! And here we are, talking about planes together having never met. You're in the right place and we're happy to help. Good luck with your search!

What are you retired from?
 
Well, at the last Texas STOL competition, there was a guy "competing" in a stock, 65 HP Champ. He was in the same class as the 180 HP Carbon Cubs, so he was NOT even remotely going to be competing with them. So he flew the entire thing with one of his grandkids in the back seat – probably right at max gross weight for that plane. (Keep in mind that most of the competitors were removing the back seats – and seat belts – and stripping out interior pieces wherever possible to get weight down to bare minimums...) His results were very respectable – probably better than I can manage solo in my O-200 powered 7ECA – and he sure looked like he was having fun! (As did the kids in the back seat!) With all those "egos" flying in the other airplanes, I just LOVED the fact that there was one guy out there who was flying for the pure joy of doing so... That, to me, is the essence of Champ flying...
 
Jim,

You just won "Next Owner Of The Site", when I'm done I'm handing it over to you! Well put and thank you!
 
Don't forget - I own one of each. And my runway has repetitive 200' markings, carefully charted on my hangar wall.

Dollar for dollar, the Citabria is one of the very best deals in aviation. Get one with good cover, low time engine, spring steel gear.
 
Thanks, all. Once I get my re-engined Bonanza back in the air and fly it around some, I’ll get more serious about this and maybe get to some flyins so I can have a look at these planes. Bart, I’ve seen Citabrias praised elsewhere and will definitely have a look.

After a midlife career change, I taught middle school for a number of years and finished up with several years as a school administrator. I hung it up two years ago, a little before I originally planned, to support my 101-year-old mother. Right now that’s about a half-time job... It’s wonderful to have this time with her. Her first job was with the FBI in the 1930’s, and she has great stories of her experiences in wartime D.C. I’m hearing some stories I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
 
That was just my story Rick, Champs are cool too, I kinda think I should have bought a Champ in the first place but still love my Citabria.

Nice story about your mom, she sounds like an interesting lady! School work is awesome, I'm involved with our district here as a board member and it's great to make a contribution to students' education.

Welcome and good luck in your search!
 
No - you did the right thing getting a Citabria. We have a 90 HP Champ locally that is affectionately known as "the piglet" because it flies like a pig. The Citabria, although pretty much the same airframe, has much crisper control response. And it doesn't wallow down on those old oleos. The 115 Lyc doesn't burn much more fuel, but you get an honest 100 mph airplane.
 
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