Aeronca Champion
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.
| Model 7 Champion | |
|---|---|
| Aeronca 7AC Champion over Kemble, Gloucestershire, England | |
| Role | Light utility aircraft / trainer |
| Manufacturer | Aeronca Champion Aircraft Bellanca American Champion Aircraft |
| Designer | Ray Hermes |
| First flight | April 29, 1944 |
| Introduction | November 1945 |
| Status | Production completed |
| Primary users | private owners flight schools, aircraft rental services, United States Air Force, Air National Guard U.S. Army Civil Air Patrol |
| Produced | 1946–1951 2007–2018 |
| Number built | more than 10,000, all manufacturers and variants (over 7,200 Aeronca 7AC Champion, 1945–1948) |
| Developed from | Aeronca L-3, Aeronca T, Aeronca Defender, Aeronca 50 Chief |
| Variants | Aeronca L-16 |
| Developed into | Citabria, Champion Lancer |
Designed for flight training and personal use—and 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.
In addition to the Champ's large-volume production by Aeronca Aircraft, it was revived in variations by the Champion Aircraft Company in the 1950s and 1960s, and then again in further variants by Bellanca in the 1960s and 1970s, and by American Champion Aircraft in the early 2000s.
To take advantage of the new light-sport aircraft (LSA) category, the Champion was returned to production in 2007, but was discontinued by mid-2019.