Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

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awilson
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Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post 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.
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drseti
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post by drseti »

The one I used to fly was 820 empty, 1220 max gross, leaving 400 useful.
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3Dreaming
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post 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.
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drseti
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post by drseti »

That's because middle-aged airplanes are like middle-aged people, Tom. We put on a few pounds with each passing year.
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awilson
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post 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.
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drseti
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post 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?
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zaitcev
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post 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.
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post 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).
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MrMorden
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post 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. :(
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Re: Aeronca 7AC Champ empty weights

Post 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
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