(Mackfly) wrote
From: Cub Driver
Not intending to be a wise-ass or anything, but if I were you I'd look
for a J-3.
What ever for?

There are the Cub people, and there are the Champ people, and never
the twain shall meet. This is a debate that has been going on for
over half a century, and shows no signs of stopping. I will admit up
front that I'm a Champ person.

Being the traditional type (ragwings forever - those newfangled
all-metal airplanes are just a fad) I did my tailwheel transition in
both. Five hours total, split about evenly between the Cub and Champ.
I soloed the Cub but never really cared for it much. Can't see squat
out the back seat, hard to reach the carb heat on a go-around, trim
system is a pain, etc - the ergonomics just suck. On the other hand,
it's a WAY better airplane for landing off airport. I loved the Champ
immediately - you can see what you're doing, you can reach everything
with relative ease, and that oleo landing gear makes you look good.
That gear is also flimsy - it may have been OK for the very early,
very light models - but most have been re-engined with heavier
engines, and are mostly carrying more fuel and heavier people. There
is a reason the Citabria has spring steel gear.

Which brings me to my point. The gear is the weak part of the Champ,
so check it very carefully. Leaks are common, and frankly that
packing used to seal it is crap. There are a lot of things you can do
to make a big leak seem small for a while, but the Champ owners I know
who have leaky gear just learn to live with it. If possible, buy one
with gear that doesn't leak too much.

Also, make sure the carb heat control (generally located on the left
side of the fuselage between the seats) stays put. I've flown one
that wouldn't, and partial carb heat on a small Continental engine is
a recipe for a forced landing. BTDT.

If you're serious about buying one, I have a friend who has a VERY
nice Champ, painstakingly restored as the Liason version, that he
knows he needs to sell, but hasn't gotten around to advertising yet.
Email me at if interested.

Michael