Aeronca Model 7 Champion / L-16

I purchased a 1938 Aeronca KCA side by side seating.It was the predecessor of the champ, and is missing from this record. I have picture of her and would be glad to send them so you can update the history. I purchased her in Wichata Kansas 1965-1967 ,sold her as I had left the F-105 Sqd. and went to fly for TWA. I tried to get my wife to fly her, but she liked tricycle gear acft.

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The RIANG 152nd FIS flying P51D's had flying club with a Chief. The toughest thing I had fying it was the mechanical heel brakes. A lot different than our other aircraft.

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I went into the Air Force in 1954 at the age of 17 and after basic training was stationed at Headquarters ATC in San Antonio where we had a flying club. The club had three champs and one chief, one piper tri-pacer and one Cessna 170. I did my training in the champ and loved it. I am 75 years old now but still love to remember the days in the champ. That plane would do the loops and spins, though you would have to be careful.

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After I was honorably dischared from the 36th Infantry Division following WW11 I took flying lessons and became a private pilot. I trainied in an Aeronca in Ardmore, OK. The Champoion looks like my trainer but I took the lessons in 1947-48 which may have been before the Champion. I do remember it was hard to stall and spin, had a compass which was some 15 degrees off and a crack between the front door and the frame. And the sirspeed was about 85 miles per hour going downhill. But I survived a great experience.

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its not aeronca or aronica its airknocker . soloed 2.8 hours 1956 troudale airport troutdale oregon.

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The first "tail-dragger" I soloed was a Champ. One heck of a lot of fun to be had in one of those planes. However, the "Chief" flys circles around a "Champ" for a lot less effort by the pilot. Same wing, control surfaces, same gear, same motor. Totally different plane. "Love um" both though.

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I soloed a TriChamp at the North Little Rock airport in 1962. The SAC base had a flying club where I learned to fly with military instructors. Forty years later I retired from the airlines after flying the B727,737,757 /767, L-188, L-1011, DC9, D8, but always loved the Champ.

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As requested previously, do you have any data on the Aeronca Chief? I had a 1939 Chief that I learned to fly with in Biloxi, Mississippi in the early 1950's. It was a fine plane, easy to fly, and great to land almost anywhere. I really liked the side by side seating with a nice storage space in the back. I wish I had it back, but I sold it to a Shrimp Boat Captain who used it to spot fish schools off Pascagoula, MS.

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I flew the same 7AC Champ, with the same instructor as Jim Kemple stated above. Those were good times, and the Champ was a great A /C!! Went on to get a Commercial, CFI, etc., but the Champ is still one of my favorites. Jim and I were both Air Traffic Controlers at Chase Fld, and remain good friends after nearly 50 years.

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Learned to fly at Univ. of Illinois Institute of Aviation starting in 1958 in 7AC champ N84008. U of I had a slew of champs on the ramp as basic trainers. Flew other types there going on to Commercial and CFI rating, but always have a spot in my heart for the champ. One endearing memory I have is looking over the ramp on a windy non-flying day and see the Aeroncas "flying" in their chains. If the wind was from the right direction one main wheel would lift off, and sometimes both mains had daylight under them! Champ wanted to FLY!.

Next 7AC experience was instructiong at the Rota, Spain Navy flying club. My ship (sub tender) was tied up there, so I spent many happy hours at the airfield.

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I just became a co-owner of a beautiful 46 7ac. I started flying when I was 15 back in 1966. The airport had used champs and cubs for years; however, shortly before I started my instruction they replaced them with a brand new Cessna 150. So I learned to fly in a 150. It was a wonderful plane and I got my private ticket at 17 and spent time in a 177 and 172. With about 180 hours I stopped flying in my early 20's. So now our kids are grown and on their own. I have an excellent retirement and have started lessons again. This time I am in the plane that eluded me more than 45 years ago. And, she'is waiting for me in her own hanger at a small, private grass airport. Nice.

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Ed Mays,my uncle and still living WW2 veteran bought a Champ in the early 60's after catching the "flying bug". At 12 years old,I immediately became his flying buddy.After school and every weekend we were flying somewhere or nowhere in paticular but flying nontheless.We would land on a small island on Lake Berryessa in northern Calif. and go fishing.I would throw a roll of toilet paper out the window and as it unwound, Uncle Ed would fly through it as many times as altitude (or lack of) would allow.One time on a trip to Healsberg the 65hp engine stopped and we had to glide into the airport.
It was Uncle Ed and the Champ that instilled my love of adventure I still have today flying Powered Paragliders at the age of 60.
The best times of my childhood were spent in the back seat of an Aeronca Champ. Thanks Uncle Ed... I love you.

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Way back in 1942 ten Navy cadets and ten Army Cadets were sent to Eagle Grove JR. College for ground school. Each morning we rode an old bus to Clarion, IA airport. The airport had two beautiful Aeronca tail dragger airplanes. Most of us 18 year olds had never been near a airplane, let alone in one. Individually we all soloed. For some unknown reason, I happened to solo first with 2.4 hours of instruction. What a great day!

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Soloed 7AC in 1958 at Bethany Airport in Ct. I will never forget that day thinking I was in a P-51 all 65 horsepower of it. I have loved aviation since I can remember and have a prop on my wall from the 7AC that lost a gear and I was with my instructor. that prop is my prized possession----it was given to me by the airport a&e.

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Do you have any info on the Aeronca Chief?

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Do you have any info on the Aeronca Chief?

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The first logged flight I have is in 9068B a 7EC and the second in 84395 a 7BCM, next was a straight back 150.

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I learned to fly, like so many others, on 3 of these aircraft. One was CF-NMY, a 1946 7AC modified with an 85 hp engine with electric start. The second was CF-JUQ, also a 1946 7AC but modified with a 90 hp engine with electric start. The third was CF-JWZ, a later model "Champ" with factory 90 hp engine and electric start. A few years after getting my licence, in 1973, and a float endorsement, I had the opportunity to check out a friend of mine with a 7AC modified with a 90 hp engine (no electrics) on floats. These aircraft made very good float planes (but not with 65 hp).

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I learned to fly in a Champ while in high school in about 1958 at Rhinelander, Wisconsin from Steve Shellbreck, a real bush pilot. The plane had to be propped and quit on us once while practicing forced landings. We put it down in a farm field full of cows. It re-started, seemed to be OK and took off with no problems. Steve was the kind of guy who said take off into the wind even if it meant going cross runway through the weeds, get it over the trees, and go. I had a lot of fun just flying the thing and had to quit when I ran out of money at 26 hours. I re-started flying again in college in a Cessna 150 from Noble Lee at Lakeland Airport in Minocqua, Wisconsin and the airport is now named after Noble. He taught me to fly all over again the correct way and his training saved my life on a flight. I'll never forget him and his wonderful way of teaching me to fly.

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The college I attended had an aviation program that allowed WWII veterans to get a private license. I got mine in 1948. They had two Champions and a Chief. I loved them all. I'd like to see more information about the Chief. kp

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