Aeronca Champion

what is it?

The Aeronca Model 7 Champion, commonly known as the "Champ", or "Airknocker", is a single-engine light airplane with a high wing, generally configured with fixed conventional landing gear and tandem seating for two occupants. The Champ was designed for flight training and personal use, and was specifically developed to compete with the popular Piper Cub. It entered production in the United States in 1945, spawning one of the most popular, and longest-produced, light airplane models in the world.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · high wing · 10.7 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 153 km/htop speed
• size 553 kgmax take-off weight
• built 10,000made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 82 years ago, in 1944.
• 🚗Wingspan of 10.7 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1944-04-29

introduced

1945

number built

10,000

role

light utility aircraft / trainer

engines

1× Continental A65-8

length

6.6 m

wingspan

10.7 m

max take-off weight

553 kg

top speed

153 km/h

cruise speed

137 km/h

range

—

ceiling

3,810 m

wings

high wing

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

family