For a taildragger, the Citabria has benign handling characteristics. Pilots with little or no taildragger experience must bear in mind the fundamental differences between conventional and trigear airplanes, however. On the ground, taildraggers want to swap ends, due to the location of the center of gravity aft of the landing gear. This is not a problem as long as the pilot stays alert to side loading of the landing gear, which requires extra attention be paid to the rudder whenever the airplane is on the ground. Once aloft, the Citabria is delightful, though once again it is markedly different from the average trigear airplane. The typical Cessna or Piper is not terribly dependent on properly coordinated flight: Not so with the Citabria, which is definitely a "rudder" airplane. Failure to keep the ball centered results in a mushy, uncomfortable ride. This characteristic is due to a propensity for adverse yaw, which becomes more important when performing aerobatics. Though capable of loops and rolls, the Citabria is far from a competition-level machine. However, it is ideal as an introduction to the experience and for casual use.
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| Tie Down: | R13 | ||
| Pilot Requirement: | Private Pilot with Tailwheel endorsement or better, 5 hours make and model, or 5 - 10 hours dual to proficiency with a Sundance approved instructor. Aerobatics require a signoff from a Sundance approved instructor. | ||
| Currency: | 3 Hours flight in last 90 days. 3 takeoffs and landings in taildragger in last 90 days. |
Sundance Flying Club Weight & Balance Tool
- For flight planning purposes only!
- Data are not guaranteed to be correct!
- CONSULT THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE AND POH FOR UP-TO-DATE AND CORRECT VALUES
| Questions? Comments? Errors? Please contact David Jacobowitz at davej@alumni.virginia.edu. | Sundance W&B v.0.1.4 Modified 1 October 2009 |