Tubes on airplane from FL and Alabama

[PeterNSteinmetz]

I am continuing my quest for a used Citabria 7GCBC. There is one for sale in FL which also spent some time AL.

A few friends have said just cross it off the list due to potential corrosion of the tubes in the fuselage, especially the lower longerons.

Is there any way to adequately test this short of recovering the plane?

 

[Bob Turner]

The traditional way is with an ice pick.

Tell us why it has to be a GCBC?

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

What do you do with the ice pick?

I want the flaps for slower and shorter landings on strips and off airport.

 

[Bob Turner]

Not an expert - I suspect the flaps are not going to convert it to a bush plane. Better to look for a 160 hp conversion - then you can get out of those short strips on a warm day.

The ice pick will go right through corroded tubes. If they are not corroded the ice pick will make little holes in the paint that will pees off the seller.

Best Champ I ever flew was a converted 7ECA. Better than my Decathlon. It is not a Super Cub, but it really does perform well. None of these belong in riverbeds or unimproved fields.

Out of Denver, into Raton NM, up to 11,000' to cross over, then easy flying to San Diego. What a nice machine!

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

I do understand it will not be a real bush plane. The mission is probably best described as improve tailwheel skills, some gentleman aerobatics, and get in and out of some of the old dirt and gravel strips around here without gravel dinging the stabilator of my Cardinal.

These are 150 hp O-320s. .

I suspect I can have the ice pick treatment part of the pre-buy.

 

[Bob Turner]

I used to fly in that part of the country. The Champ is ok on gravel or old roads - again I don't think the flaps will make much of a difference. The 150 Lyc burns ten gph. The 160 burns just over six. Seven and a half if you run it hard.

If you are thinking about 600 foot strips, these are not the airplanes for you.

I believe a well done 160 Champ can be had for around $80 grand. I do not have a feel for the GCBC - I am surprised you have not gotten a response from an actual GCBC owner.

 

[Thedude]

I prefer having the flaps. Combined with VGs my stall speed is 9mph slower than a flapless Citabria. It’s no super cub but I can still go to a lot of the same places and get there faster and more comfortably. A 1000’ strip is more than enough and the O320 runs a reliable 7.5gph on cheap(er) auto fuel.

 

[PeterNSteinmetz]

I hope to hear from them as well or anyone with experience looking at the tubes on these older planes.

Here is a screen capture of the Takeoff/Climb Performance chart for these. The DA here in AZ is often a concern - especially on a day like today with highs of 115 F.