| Model 7 Champion | |
|---|---|
 Aeronca 7AC Champion over Kemble, Gloucestershire, England | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light utility aircraft / trainer[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Manufacturer | Aeronca Champion Aircraft Bellanca American Champion Aircraft |
| Designer | |
| Status | Production completed |
| Primary users | private owners flight schools, aircraft rental services, United States Air Force, Air National Guard U.S. Army Civil Air Patrol[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Number built | more than 10,000, all manufacturers and variants (over 7,200 Aeronca 7AC Champion, 1945–1948)[1][3][4][6] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1946–1951[1][3][4] 2007–2018 |
| Introduction date | November 1945 |
| First flight | April 29, 1944[3] |
| Developed from | Aeronca L-3, Aeronca T, Aeronca Defender, Aeronca 50 Chief[1] |
| Variants | Aeronca L-16[1][3][4][5][7] |
| Developed into | Citabria, Champion Lancer[4][5] |
The Aeronca Model 7 Champion, commonly known as the "Champ", or "Airknocker",[3][5][7][8] is a single-engine light airplane with a high wing, generally configured with fixed conventional landing gear and tandem seating for two occupants.
The Champ was designed for flight training[5][9] and personal use, and was specifically developed to compete with the popular Piper Cub. It entered production in the United States in 1945, spawning one of the most popular, and longest-produced, light airplane models in the world.[1][2][5][7][10][11]
In addition to the Champ's large-volume production by Aeronca Aircraft, it was revived in variations by the Champion Aircraft Company in the 1950s and 1960s, and then again in further variants by Bellanca in the 1960s and 1970s, and by American Champion Aircraft in the early 2000s.[5][7][8][10][11]
To take advantage of the new light-sport aircraft (LSA) category, the Champion was returned to production in 2007,[12][13][14] but was discontinued by mid-2019.[15]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Harris, Richard, "Aeronca: Birth of the Personal Plane Archived 2010-07-22 at the Wayback Machine," AAHS Journal, Summer 2007, vol.52, #2, American Aviation Historical Society
- ^ a b c d Harris, Richard, "Aeronca/Champion History: Beyond the Bathtub – Chiefs, Champs & Citabrias," from articles first appearing in In Flight USA, 2003–2004, condensed on author's website.
- ^ a b c d e f g Aerofiles.com, "Aeronca" page, Aircraft section, retrieved Feb. 22, 2016
- ^ a b c d e f g Davisson, Budd. "Comparing the Classics: The Aeronca Champ," EAA/Sport Aviation, June, 1997, Experimental Aircraft Association, as reproduced on the author's website, retrieved 2016-02-01
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ethell, Jeffrey, Used Aircraft Guide, 1979, Charles Scribner's Sons, NY
- ^ Simpson 1991, p. 13.
- ^ a b c d Flying staff, "Pilot Report: Bellanca Champ]," Flying Annual & Pilots' Guide, 1971 ed. [Ziff-Davis], NY
- ^ a b Bellanca Aircraft Corp, "[ad: "The Champ only $4,995"]," Flying Annual & Pilots' Guide, 1971 ed., pp.36–37 [Ziff-Davis], NY
- ^ Flying Dec. 1946, as quoted in Flying Annual & Pilots' Guide,' 1971 ed. [Ziff-Davis], NY'
- ^ a b "[The Big 10]," (planes in production longest) sidebar, Air & Space Smithsonian Feb. 1996, vol.10#6, p.48.
- ^ a b Wilkinson, Stephan, "First Flight: The Champ," Flying, February 1971: [Ziff-Davis], NY, as retrieved 2016-01-30 from Google Books, and as reproduced in print edition of Flying Annual & Pilots' Guide, 1971 ed., Ziff Davis, NY.
- ^ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 24. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ Experimental Aircraft Association (2012). "American Champion Aircraft 7EC". Retrieved April 30, 2012.
- ^ Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015–16, page 28. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ "American Champion Aircraft Corporation: Champ". americanchampionaircraft.com. American Champion Aircraft Corporation. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
Discontinued: was a great run!