New Member - Manny Vargas

[evargas163]

Hello Everyone,

Few months back, I purchased a 1970 Citabria 7GCAA - N9128L. After the airplane was ferried over from Florida, It was flown around the area few hours. Before getting additional flight hours on it, I decided to check all the safety components, clean it up and get familiar with the mechanical components. The tailwheel was disassembled and inspected. The Tire, inner tube, bushings, springs, bearings and hardware were replaced. The main landing gear were disassembled and inspected as well. Replaced the wheel bearings, brakes, inner tubes, New U-bolts, struts hardware and the calipers were rebuilt. Completed the typical engine annual check to include changing the oil, clean the oil screen, replaced valve cover gaskets, inspected all the ducting and cleaned out the spark plugs. The front floor boards and toe brake conversion kit will be next on the list. The paint and fabric need few patches and touch-ups as well. It has definitely been a good experience getting to know more about the aircraft. Thanks to my AP for his help and giving me guidance on this project.

This forum has a lot of information for me to use with my new Aircraft.

Manny Vargas

 

[Bob Turner]

Consider flying a bit with heel brakes before you drop that three grand. Most Cub folks like heel brakes better. I go back and forth daily (Cubs have heel; Decathlon has toe). I prefer heel brakes. I have 15000 hours in toe brake aircraft.

Spend the money to replace the U bolts with the NAS bolts and beams, and definitely replace the inner AN-7 with an NAS bolt. Shop carefully; ACA wants $130 each for those bolts.

 

[evargas163]

Bob,

Thanks for the feedback. I got the U-Bolt Kit from Wag-Aero with the inner replacement bolts. Everything worked fine.

Manny

 

[Clifford Daly]

I second the heel brakes! I love them and would never convert to toe on my citabria. I’m sure I could get used to them but heel is great. In a tailwheel airplane you should only really ever use brakes for the startup and run up, other than that you should be no where near the brakes. But it’s only 2 inches away if you need them on a bad landing.

Post pictures!

 

[Bob Turner]

The U bolts are a known weak point. The inner bolt needs to be torqued every 50 hours. The NAS bolt is a 167,000 psi bolt and eliminates all that. They use the NAS bolts in place of the U bolt as well. I don't think the U bolt is anywhere near 125,000 psi. Not sure.

 

[aftCG]

Another vote for retaining the heel brakes.

Taxi around real slow where there is some
room. Exactly as stated above, if you're using them much at all it's because the fan up front is working too hard.

Heel brakes are an outstanding theft deterrent. Ain't more than one or two pilots at most airports who would dare try

 

[evargas163]

Thanks, for the advice. I will give it a try. I took the plane out few times but was not able to get used to the heel brakes. I almost ground looped the plane at one of the wheel landing. I got my endorsement on a a 1974 7GCBC and on a 1959 Arronca Champ with the toe brakes on both.

 

[evargas163]

Pictures of my Citabria

 

[Bob Turner]

Looks like a winner. Don't mess with it. If this is the U bolt you installed, you are home free. I did not know they called these U bolts. Way strong!
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpages/lgubolts.php

 

[Bob Turner]

I had forgotten about this - check here:

https://champcitabriadecathlonforums.com/threads/landing-gear-hardware-and-tail-wheel-rigging.89/

 

[aftCG]

Damn that it's a flashy paint job!

 

[Clifford Daly]

Awesome! I was wondering where that one ended up, it’s gorgeous.

Don’t take this the wrong way BUT you didn’t almost ground loop because of the heel brakes, it was because you fell behind the rudder pedals. Anyone would be lying if they said it never happened to them!

 

[evargas163]

Awesome! I was wondering where that one ended up, it’s gorgeous.

Don’t take this the wrong way BUT you didn’t almost ground loop because of the heel brakes, it was because you fell behind the rudder pedals. Anyone would be lying if they said it never happened to them!

Yes, you are correct. As the plane touched down, it darted to the left. I made a rudder correction to the right but I went too far and too fast. I did not do a series of small corrections at a time. I tell you my next few landings were right on the money and straight. I got too relaxed and fell behind on the rudder pedal. The heel brakes did not have anything to do with the landings.

 

[JimParker256]

I was really nervous about the heel brakes on my '65 7ECA, since I had only flown with toe brakes, and this was my first tailwheel flight. After taxiing around the airport for a few minutes, it became a non-issue. I've since grown to like them a lot, and would never consider spending the money to change to toe brakes. Just my 3 cents worth. (Inflation, you know...)

 

[aftCG]

Yep. I was given a complete set of master cylinders, pedals and the linkages from a friend who converted. On the wall of my hangar along with my canoe size wheel pants

 

[kcabpilot]

I think the awkward, unwieldy and cantankerous ground handling characteristics of these old taildraggers becomes a source of pride when we master them and that’s the only reason we have this unreasonable fondness for heel brakes.

 

[Bob Turner]

There is another reason or two:
First, they are simpler, therefore lighter. They are not an extra drag on rudder pedals.
Second, they are always in the same place. They never hit the firewall at full rudder.
Caveat: not counting the Aeronca Chief - heel brakes, but none of the above advantages.

 

[Adriano Pellegrini]

Hi, I hope you like it I miss it a lot

 

[evargas163]

Thanks for the pictures. Are you the previous owner?

I will definitely take care of it! The annual was being done now and we are looking at all the systems. Lots of work but I want to keep it flying for many years!

Take Care,
Manny Vargas

 

[Bob Turner]

Where are you based? French Valley?