Page 1 of 1
Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 8:04 pm
by awilson
What would the normal empty weight be for a 65HP Champ? I see some very nices ones but they seem to be pretty heavy. I don't want to give up 50 lbs. or more in performance just because it looks beautiful.
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 8:15 pm
by drseti
The one I used to fly was 820 empty, 1220 max gross, leaving 400 useful.
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 8:19 pm
by 3Dreaming
I weighed a Champ last year. I'll have to see if I have the document saved on my work computer. I think it was somewhere around 820. I can tell you with some certainty that many of the older airplane actually weigh more than their papers say they did when they were new.
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 8:25 pm
by drseti
That's because middle-aged airplanes are like middle-aged people, Tom. We put on a few pounds with each passing year.
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 8:30 pm
by awilson
Hmmm, well I found a gorgeous 65 hp one. NOT electric No wing tanks. But it is 869 empty and 1220 gross. Is this average or heavy? I don't want to buy a dog just because it is pretty. Or not be able to put 2 people in it and fly a good hour or so.
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 9:10 pm
by drseti
If this plane has an 8 gallon header tank, it's good for two 150 pound adults (which is probably what folks weighed around 1946).
Still, sounds heavy to me. I wonder how many coats if dope it has over the fabric?
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 12:26 pm
by zaitcev
A modern Champ from the factory in 2015 weighs 922 lbs. That includes an O-200 and an aluminum spar, but they really weren't all that lightweight to begin with.
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 12:55 pm
by drseti
zaitcev wrote:A modern Champ from the factory in 2015 weighs 922 lbs.
I can believe that. With a 1320 pound max gross, the useful load is then 398 pounds. That parallels quite closely my old 1946 model (1220 max gross, 820 pounds empty, 400 pounds useful load).
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:55 am
by MrMorden
Yeah, in reality that's not so bad for a Champ with 100hp and a full electrical system and basic avionics (radio, transponder, etc). Not a lightweight, but very similar to what you'd see in a similarly equipped J-3 Cub.
Still basically a one person airplane though.
Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:12 pm
by Edgefly
Before you make a final decision, look closely at an 11AC. And no matter what, realize that an FAA "people" from 1946 is a lot different than most of us today ! Trade off all of the selection parameters relevant to your mission for the aircraft. Aeroncas are fine choices for many light aircraft users.
Dale