I have a line on a mid 70s 7ECA with the o320 upgrade. Want to use for fun low n slow, getting into 1000ft grass, maybe some light aerobatics. Maybe train my son? Can't do primary in a bonanza.

Got fairly new fabric, engine, metal spar.

Any gotchas to know? Who's owned one? Will I fit? Can I rent for tail endorsements? Will any DPE do a ppl checkout in one? Also has floats, but dunno if that matters.

Chime in.

A Citabria is a really fun airplane. It is a blast to fly. I had a 7GCAA for 11 years before I sold it to a friend last fall. All I can think about is getting another one. If the fabric is good and the metal tube structure isn't rusty there isn't much else to worry about. Especially with a metal spar one.

Buy it, fly it and grin a lot.

My first airplane was a 7KCAB and I currently have a 7GCAA. They are awesome all-around airplanes that are a LOT of fun and good bang for the buck in both acquisition and operation costs.

I had one. They're great. Super fun and fairly docile as far as tail draggers go. took awhile but eventually felt like I had the thing well tamed even in stiff cross winds.

Fun, forgiving & simple.
Great primary trainer.
Read Plourde's Compleat Taildragger Pilot, understand it all & give it to your son.

If it's been on floats, rear end & tail feather tubing corrosion is a real concern.
Even the stringers & formers need close inspection.

Spring gear attach bolts should be upgraded and the tubing cluster there thoroughly inspected for cracked welds.

If Scott 2000 tailwheel shimmies, it's all about geometry.
Replace, or re-arc the spring & don't over grease it.

Make sure paperwork for upgrades is in order.
Getting much harder to correct in retrospect with FSDOs.

My 1979 GCBC with only 1,500 TTAF had some serious issues when we re-built it after Mother Nature flipped it OVER the dock (did us a favor in hindsight).

I love Citabrias. The 7-series wing is more kinda-sorta-aerobatic than fully aerobatic (for that you'd want a Decathlon) and you don't have inverted fuel/oil systems but it's absolutely fine for casual Sunday loops and rolls. As taildraggers go it's very docile on landing and on the ground with great forward visibility. Older airplanes have wood spar wings whereas newer ones have metal spars. Many have been retrofitted. There's nothing inherently wrong with the wood spars but they need careful inspection.

ETA: you already mentioned the metal spar so all good there.

7KCAB has inverted fuel and oil.

But undercambered wing is NOT happy inverted/neg G

My one backseat ride in one didn't really give me any insights.

I own a 1973 7GCBC with a Lycoming O-320-B2B (160hp) engine. I don’t feel like there are any gotchas aside for the normal items you would check when purchasing a plane. As mentioned earlier, the tailwheel must be cared for and tire pressure properly maintained to prevent tailwheel shimmy. My plane had a frame up restoration in 2018 and a new wooden spar installed. I do some light aerobatics but I just never felt like I should pull anything more over 3.5Gs even though it has a 5.0 limit. It requires good energy management to complete the figure while not overspending. I also have VGs installed with oversized tires. It has nice short field performance with the additional HP, flaps, and VGs. I am 6’2” and comfortably fit - without the seat back cushions and some lower profile Oregon Aero seat cushions. All around fun plane to own!

You can still find a few DPEs that will give a check ride in a tailwheel. Full hull coverage was too expensive to cover a student so went with Liability only (around $600). Review the TCDS on the FAAs website, provides all the models and engine options.

Yes it’s a great platform to teach your son! I soloed my son on his 16 birthday a few weeks ago.

Is it me or are the models impossible to understand. Ie 7KCAB and 7GCAA. Is that hex decimal?

Airbatic spelled backwards is the only insight that I can offer here.

How are they as travelling machines? I.e. 300 miles, 3 nights worth of luggage?

Can they be IFR certified? Any options for an autopilot?

Yes I know that isn't their primary mission, I'm just curious.

Not hex. Hex is limited to 0-F.

Near as I can figure is that the marketing(?) geniuses at Champion were hired by GM.

In terms of the 1960/1970s models.

I took mine from LL45 in Illinois to 7K7 in South Dakota (about 4 hours one way) and back once. Never again. After 45 minutes you start to want to stretch after an hour you want out. They are great 30 minute airplanes. There is room behind the back seat for a couple small duffle bags but not much else. Also full fuel and 2 people you will most likely be over gross.

For PPL training, don't forget that at some point you'll need a gyro attitude indicator, or such, for the instrument flight requirement (and checkride.) Many older Citabrias didn't come with gyros installed.