Bellanca 7GCAA Citabria

1 × Piston Unpressurized High Wing • Conventional

Range Map

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+ cargo

Payload vs. Range

Occupants:

Fuel on board

Cargo

Range

Cargo is additional payload after occupants and baggage.

Adjust payload

full tanks

Available Range / nm

Mission capable. This load flies with full fuel.

Fuel reduced by . left aboard for nm range.

Over max payload by . At this load it cannot lift a single occupant.

Trip Preview

Mission Profile

MOSAIC Eligible

In production

110

KTAS

Cruise Speed

483

Max Range

15,000

Service Ceiling

Occupants

340

lbs

Wet Payload

Endorsements & ratings:

Tailwheel

American Champion 7GCAA Citabria (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Bellanca 7GCAA Citabria

Type certificated 1965

Overview

The Bellanca 7GCAA Citabria is a two-seat, tandem, high-wing taildragger built for aerobatics and tailwheel training. Its name is “Airbatic” spelled backwards, a nod to the loops and rolls it is certificated to fly. The airframe descends directly from the fabric-covered Aeronca 7AC Champ of 1945, which grew through Champion and Bellanca ownership into the reinforced, more powerful Citabria line. Today the type certificate and current production belong to American Champion Aircraft, which builds the 7GCAA as the “Citabria Adventure” with a 160 hp Lycoming O-320, a metal wing spar, and a 1,750 lb gross weight.

The Adventure pairs honest control feel with genuine acrobatic capability, a strong 1,167 fpm climb, and steel-tube-and-fabric construction that owner-mechanics can inspect and repair. Cruise sits near 110 knots on about 9 gallons an hour, so it trades outright speed for docile handling, short-field manners, and low fuel bills. For a buyer who wants a tailwheel endorsement, weekend aerobatics, or a simple recreational airplane that a sport pilot can fly under MOSAIC, the 7GCAA is a forgiving and affordable way into tailwheel and aerobatic flying.

Key Features for GA Buyers

Aerobatic certification. The 7GCAA is approved in the Acrobatic category for loops, rolls, spins, and other positive-G maneuvers, making it an entry-level aerobatic trainer.
Strong climb. A 160 hp Lycoming O-320 lifts the light airframe at about 1,167 fpm at sea level, which helps on short strips and rising terrain.
Simple, repairable construction. A steel-tube fuselage and fabric covering keep inspection and repair within reach of an owner working with an A&P, and the modern metal wing spar avoids the wood-spar inspection burden.
MOSAIC sport-pilot access. With a clean stall near 45 knots, the Citabria falls within the sport-pilot privileges of the MOSAIC rule, letting a sport pilot fly it on a driver’s-license medical.

Trade-offs

Modest cruise. At around 110 knots it is slower than comparably priced tricycle-gear cruisers, so it is a poor pick for long cross-country travel.
Tailwheel discipline. Conventional-gear landings require a tailwheel endorsement and stay demanding in crosswinds, which lengthens the learning curve for a new owner.
Two seats, light load. With 550 lb of useful load and tandem seating, two adults plus full fuel leaves little for baggage, and there is no room for a third person.
Fabric upkeep. Fabric covering has a finite life and eventually needs a costly recover, a recurring expense that metal airframes avoid.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Height: 8 ft
Length: 22 ft
Parking area (ft²²): 1,178 ft²

Max Takeoff Weight: Source: manufacturer figure 1,750 lbs
Max Landing Weight: 1,750 lbs
Useful Load: Source: manufacturer figure 550 lbs
Fuel Capacity: Source: manufacturer figure 35 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed: Source: manufacturer figure 110 KTAS
Never-Exceed (V_NE): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 141 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (V_NO): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 104 KIAS
Approach Speed: 61 KIAS
Stall, Clean (V_S₁): Source: manufacturer figure 45 KIAS
Range: 483 NM
Service Ceiling: Source: manufacturer figure 15,000 ft
Rate of Climb: 1167 fpm

Engine

Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Bellanca 7GCAA Citabria specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.

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