American Champion 7ECA Citabria

The Citabria was originally a Champion Aircraft design from 1964, derived from the older Aeronca 7AC Champ. The name spelled backwards reads "airbatic" and reflects the design intent. Champion Aircraft went through ownership changes including Bellanca and eventually settled with American Champion Aircraft in 1989. American Champion has continued production from Rochester, Wisconsin ever since.

The 7ECA is the lowest-power Citabria variant. American Champion sells higher-power 7GCAA and 7GCBC versions with 150 to 180 hp Lycomings for pilots who want more climb and short-field capability. The 7ECA's 115 hp O-235 is the traditional trainer choice and the cheapest to operate. The airplane retains the original Citabria's mild aerobatic envelope of +5/-2 g, which makes it legal for loops, rolls, and spins but not capable of the inverted maneuvers the Decathlon handles.

American Champion still builds new 7ECA airplanes in 2026 at low volume. The used fleet is the dominant market, with airplanes from the 1970s through 2010s trading actively. Recent-build airplanes carry a meaningful premium because the fabric on a recent rebuild has 15 to 20 years before next re-cover, while a 1970s airplane may be due for major fabric work.

The 7ECA is not fast. The 115 hp O-235 with a fixed-pitch metal prop cruises at 105 to 110 KTAS at 65% power, burning 5.5 gph. Top cruise at 75% power is 115 KTAS on 6 gph. Climb at sea level is about 700 to 800 fpm at gross weight, dropping to 500 fpm by 5,000 feet. The airplane is happiest at low altitudes flying slowly.

Useful load is tight. A typical 7ECA has 380 to 420 pounds of useful load. Full fuel is 26 gallons (156 pounds), leaving about 220 to 270 pounds for two people and bags. That works for a pilot and one passenger but doesn't work with two large adults plus bags. Most owners fly the airplane solo or with reduced fuel.

Where the 7ECA earns its place is in handling. The airplane has light, responsive controls. Stall is gentle and recoverable. The taildragger gear track is wide enough to be forgiving on grass strips. Approach speeds run 55 to 60 knots and short-field landings can be done in 600 to 800 feet of grass. The airplane lives in the same operating envelope that piston aviation occupied before fast cross-country airplanes took over the market.

The Lycoming O-235-C1 (115 hp, parallel valve, four-cylinder air-cooled) is the only engine in the 7ECA. Lycoming's published TBO for the O-235 is 2,400 hours per Lycoming Service Instruction 1009 BE. The O-235 is one of the most reliable engines Lycoming makes, with simple construction, manageable parts cost, and decades of mechanic familiarity.

Field overhaul of an O-235 runs $18,500 to $32,000 in 2026 at a name-brand shop. The O-235 is the cheapest Lycoming to overhaul thanks to its small displacement, low-stress operating profile, and abundant used parts supply. Many owners pursue owner-assisted overhauls when the airframe permits. Top overhauls between TBOs are uncommon on an O-235 used in trainer or recreational service.

Propeller is a fixed-pitch metal McCauley or Sensenich. There's no constant-speed prop option on the 7ECA. Fixed-pitch props are zero-maintenance on a calendar basis and overhaul on condition runs $1,000 to $1,800 in 2026, typically every 15 to 20 years or after significant nicks and damage.

The 7ECA is one of the cheapest certified airplanes to own per hour in 2026. The math is straightforward.

Fuel runs $30 to $42 per hour at $5.50 to $7 per gallon and 5.5 to 6 gph. Engine reserve is $8 to $14 per hour ($18,500 to $32,000 overhaul amortized across 2,400 hours). Prop reserve is under $1 per hour. Airframe maintenance reserve is $18 to $30 per hour, which is high relative to the engine and fuel costs because of fabric work. All-in at 100 hours a year runs $90 to $130 per hour, plus $3,000 to $6,000 in annual fixed costs.

Fabric re-cover dominates the calendar economics. A complete re-cover with new fabric, primer, paint, and inspection costs $25,000 to $45,000 in 2026 and is typically required every 15 to 25 years depending on hangar conditions and how the airplane has been stored. Fabric airplanes kept outside age noticeably faster than hangared airplanes. An owner buying a 7ECA needs to know how long ago the airplane was re-covered and budget the difference.

Acquisition cost in mid-2026 runs $35,000 to $55,000 for an older 7ECA with original fabric and steam gauges, $55,000 to $90,000 for a clean airplane with recent fabric and updated avionics. Recent-build factory new 7ECA airplanes from American Champion list around $200,000 with current pricing. Used inventory is the dominant market.