Champion Aircraft (Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
Champion Aircraft Corporation was formed in 1954 by Robert Brown. Headquartered in Osceola
, Wisconsin
, it began production in 1954 of the 7EC design which it had purchased from Aeronca Aircraft Corporation. Through the 1950s and the 1960s Champion introduced variations on the 7-series design. Champion also developed and began production of the significantly upgraded follow-on to the 7-series, the 8KCAB Decathlon
, as well as the twin-engined Lancer
. Champion was acquired in 1970 by Bellanca Aircraft Corporation
, which continued to produce most of the Champion designs in production at the time of acquisition.
Champion's aircraft, by date of FAA approval or Champion introduction are:
Osceola, Wisconsin
Osceola is a village in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,421 at the 2000 census. The village is located mostly within the Town of Osceola.The downtown features Cascade Falls, a waterfall with a crest, located on Osceola Creek....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, it began production in 1954 of the 7EC design which it had purchased from Aeronca Aircraft Corporation. Through the 1950s and the 1960s Champion introduced variations on the 7-series design. Champion also developed and began production of the significantly upgraded follow-on to the 7-series, the 8KCAB Decathlon
8KCAB Decathlon
|-References:Specific references:General references:*Type certificate data sheet no. A21CE. Revision 13. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration.-External links:* * -See also:...
, as well as the twin-engined Lancer
Champion Lancer
The Champion 402 Lancer was an attempt to produce an inexpensive twin engine trainer by using two Continental O-200 engines on the wings of a tricycle gear Champion 7FC. The aircraft has fixed landing gear, and fixed pitched propellers....
. Champion was acquired in 1970 by Bellanca Aircraft Corporation
AviaBellanca Aircraft
AviaBellanca Aircraft Corporation is an American aircraft design and manufacturing company. Prior to 1983 it was known as the Bellanca Aircraft Company...
, which continued to produce most of the Champion designs in production at the time of acquisition.
Aircraft produced
Champion, as the name suggests, was formed to produce the design which Aeronca had introduced in 1946 as the 7AC Champion. By the time Aeronca ceased production in 1951, they had advanced the design through the 7BCM, 7CCM, and 7DC, reaching the 7EC. It was this model with which Champion commenced production in 1954, giving it the name "Traveler" to go along with the alphanumeric model designation. (Champion assigned both alphanumeric designations and names to most of its designs.) Though there was a great variety, all of the aircraft which Champion introduced were in one way or another related to the original Aeronca design.Champion's aircraft, by date of FAA approval or Champion introduction are:
- 1954 7EC TravelerAeronca ChampionThe Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
- 1957 7FC Tri-TravelerAeronca ChampionThe Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
- 1958 7GC Sky-TracAeronca ChampionThe Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
- 1959 7HC DX'erAeronca ChampionThe Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
- 1959 7GCA
- 1960 7JC Tri-ConAeronca ChampionThe Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
- 1960 7GCB ChallengerAeronca ChampionThe Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
- 1961 7KC OlympiaAeronca ChampionThe Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
- 1962 7GCBA ChallengerAeronca ChampionThe Aeronca Model 7 Champion, more commonly known as the Champ, is a single-engine, two-seat, fixed conventional gear airplane. Designed for flight training and personal use, it entered production in the United States in 1945....
- 1963 402 LancerChampion LancerThe Champion 402 Lancer was an attempt to produce an inexpensive twin engine trainer by using two Continental O-200 engines on the wings of a tricycle gear Champion 7FC. The aircraft has fixed landing gear, and fixed pitched propellers....
- 1964 7ECA Citabria
- 1965 7GCAA Citabria
- 1965 7GCBC Citabria
- 1966 7KCAB Citabria
- 1970 8KCAB Decathlon