The Aeronca Champion might be the Rodney Dangerfield of light aircraft. The plane, which has historically played second fiddle to the Piper Cub, doesn’t get the respect it deserves, according to its fans. “Take all the light planes from that era and look at which offers the best characteristics… I would place the Champ at the top,” argues John Weigel, a Boston area pilot who twice flew a Champ from coast to coast. “I love the Cub,” he says, “but the Champ has no bad qualities. And if I’m taking someone up with me, I’ll take it over other similar planes every time.” When compared to the Cub, as well as the Luscombe, Taylorcraft and Cessna 120 and 140, among other tailwheelers, the Champ is easier to get into, offers more comfort, has better visibility, more forgiving landing gear and is probably the better training/low-time pilot aircraft. All are good reasons to consider a Champ if you’re looking for a simple, relatively inexpensive and fun to fly aircraft.
Buying Used: Aeronca Champ—A Plane That Deserves Your Respect
(Photo: Arpingstone - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=238354)
Development
Features & Flight Characteristics
Prebuy, Inspection, Maintenance & Ownership
Anyone buying a Champ should have a pre-buy inspection performed by an A&P who’s familiar with older aircraft, according to Coates and Weigel. The condition of the wooden wing spars should be carefully checked, as should the nails holding the ribs to the spar. Champs were often used to train pilots and some were subjected to harsh landings. The fabric covering should also be checked, especially if the plane has been left outside for any duration. Weigel says you could easily spend more having a Champ recovered than what you paid for it. “A lot of Champs were modified over the years and sometimes the paperwork wasn’t done correctly,” warns Weigel. “Get the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) on the plane, carefully review the plane’s logs to double check that Airworthiness Directives [ADs] have been followed and to make sure everything is as it should be.” This is especially true for Champs that had aftermarket starters and battery systems added. Unlike today’s Sport Planes which only need to meet ASTM standards, the Champ is a ‘certified’ aircraft. That means ADs are enforceable FAA regulations that must be followed and documented. Weigel says there are a number of STCs (Supplemental Type Certificates) available which allow for a wide range of modifications to the Champ. While some owners replaced the plane’s original heel-activated brakes with toe brakes, Weigel suggest keeping the originals and getting used to them. “You only need brakes for taxiing,” he explains. “It’s too easy to accidentally hit toe-brakes while using the rudder pedals for take-off and landing rolls—something you absolutely have to do—and that’s not a good thing with a taildragger.”(Photo: Arpingstone - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6866179)