Larger Rudder on Citabria 7ECA

C

Cowboys Air Ranch 84ME

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Forest Twp, Maine
Howdy,

Has anyone put the larger rudder on a Citabria, especially a 7ECA. I see that they are available for other Citabria models, like 7GCAA, 7KCAB, 7GCBC, Etc from Univair.

I have been told that they do not put them on the 7ECA models. (No STC available for 7ECA I am told). I bet for Ski Flying, it would greatly enhance performance on slippery surfaces, Ice, Packed down snow, etc, where the tail ski has little or no authority or slow taxi conditions and crosswinds.

Any input?

PS,.... I am still looking for a Wheel Penetrating Tail Ski for my 7ECA w/ 8 inch Scott 3200 tail wheel. Like a Burl, or like? Winter is coming to Northern Maine really fast! Brrrrrrrrrrrrr

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
N11667 Citabria 7ECA
 

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Eric Brown said:
Univair STC SA1536WE approves the large rudder on the 7ECA. FAA website says STC is current.
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Howdy,

Thanks for that info. A few years ago, they told me that it was not approved for the 7ECA. I must of gotten the wrong info.

My rudder holes where the tail wheel horn are worn oval and the horn turns about 5 degrees in relation to the rudder. The rudder needs to be recovered anyway. Found a larger rudder in great shape at a Junk Yard, but it is gone now (Did Not Last Long). I will still be looking. Have to find out if I can just buy the STC alone for a reasonable price.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
N11667 Citabria 7ECA
 
Univair apparently sells just the paperwork for at least some of their STCs. What does the larger rudder do? Make extreme slips better? How much more crosswind does it enable?
 
Bob Turner said:
Univair apparently sells just the paperwork for at least some of their STCs. What does the larger rudder do? Make extreme slips better? How much more crosswind does it enable?
Click to expand...
Howdy,

I guess it is made for flying aerobatics more than anything else. I talked with a few guys over the years stating that a larger rudder on ANY aircraft works a lot better for flying on skis on very slippery surfaces, like frozen over lakes without any or much snow. These folks were mostly in Alaska flying extreme areas.

It helps control the inputs to keep the nose going in the direction you intend without adding a lot of power and magnifying P factor. Sounds like a viable opinion to me.

Thinking I may go that way. The skags on straight skis are useless on ice, like on a lake or on the frozen junk (Ice Storms) we have been getting up here in northern Maine the past few years.

I did see the "Airframes Alaska", what they call the "Grizzly Claw Ski Drag" https://www.airframesalaska.com/Grizzly-Claw-Ski-Drag-s/1879.htm in action last winter. It was great, but there is no STC for my 7ECA with Federal A2000A skis. Only for Airglas L2000A skis.

They have a really kool video on their page with them in operation on a Super Cub. Also, video is on Facebook looking up "Grizzly Claw Ski Drag".

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
N11667 Citabria 7ECA
 
Bartman said:
thread drift alert: Ken can we meet you up there if the ice runway opens this year at Alton Bay?
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Howdy Bart,....

I sure hope so! Getting fuel with having only Straight Skis may be a challenge, but I think we can work something out. Might take some planning, or just put wheels back on the plane for that trip? Alton Bay is 200nm south of me. Would have to fly down a day early for the weekend.

Either way, it sounds like a plan. Hope they can open it up this year, but past few years have been really strange, warm and such. If we could get a few folks to go, share expenses and lodging, that sounds like fun.

Not sure when they plan the big winter Fly-in? Mid February I believe.

Ken "Cowboy" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
N11667 Citabria 7ECA
 
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