Photograph:
Aeronca 7AC Champion VH-AYK (c/n 7AC-3076) taxiing at Camden, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Continental A65-8 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.72 m (35 ft 2 in)
- Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.13 m (7 ft)
- Wing area: 15.81 m² (170.2 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 137 km/h (85 mph)
- Stalling speed: 61 km/h (38 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 158 m/min (520 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,840 m (12,600 ft)
- Range: 724 km (450 miles)
- Empty weight: 322 kg (710 lb)
- Useful load: 231 kg (510 lb)
- Loaded weight: 599 kg (1,320 lb)
History:
The Model 7 Champion series was introduced to the Aeronca range in 1946 immediately after World War II as a light training and touring monoplane. Produced in five variants, differing basically in the type of power plant installed, and minor internal details, production lasted for about six years. In that time some thousands were built, figures in the region of 10,000 being quoted.
The first model in the series was the 7AC, a development of the Model K, from which it differed basically in having a reduction in wingspan, but an increase in chord, thus slightly increasing the wing area. The next model was the 7BC powered by the 63 kw (85 hp) Continental C85-12 engine, the 63 kw (85 hp) Continental O-190-1, or the 67 kw (90 hp) Continental O-205-1, this model being supplied in some numbers to the US Army as the L-16A or the L-16B.
The Model 7CC had the Continental C90-12F engine; the 7DC was a later production version of the 7AC, having a 63 kw (85 hp) Continental C85; and the last model in the series, the 7EC, was generally similar to the 7AC but was fitted with a 67 kw (90 hp) Continental C90-1 engine.
In 1954 the Champion Aircraft Corporation of Osceola in Wisconsin purchased manufacturing rights for the type and subsequently the aircraft were built under the designation Champion 7EC, 7FC etc.
A small number of examples of the series has been registered in this region. A Model 7AC (c/n 1593) was first registered in January 1947 as VH-AJX and became ZK-AWF in New Zealand in 1950. A further example arrived in Australia in 1982. This aircraft was imported to Australia on board the Qantas Boeing 747 “Oshkosh Express”.
Since then other examples in the series have been imported and registrations allotted include 7AC VH-XYX (c/n 7AC-3499); 7AC VH-EPZ (c/n 7AC-5005); 7BCM VH-UMP, (c/n 7AC-3425), VH-AYK³ (c/n 7AC-3076 – ex ZS-AYK) and 7AC VH-STU (c/n 7AC-2266).
A number have been registered under RAA Regulations and these include 24-7836 (c/n 7AC-3307), a conversion to 7DC configuration; 24-4196 (c/n 7AC-1269); 24-4605 (c/n 7AC-5005); 24-5210 (c/n 7AC-885) and 24-7224 (c/n 7AC-1672 – ex VH-IMS4. ZS-VGN, ZS-AXI).