Flight Training - March 2019 - 24
PREFLIGHT RAMP APPEAL
BY IAN J. TWOMBLY
QUICK LOOK
Looking to buy?
See how the Super
Decathlon measures up:
How much: $40,000 to
$250,000 depending
on year and hours.
Finance: For a purchase
price of $40,000, AOPA
Finance estimates a
monthly payment of
$305 with 15 percent
down, a 7-percent
interest rate, and a
15-year term.
Insurance: AssuredPartners estimates
$800 to $3,000,
depending on value,
total time, and total
tailwheel time.
Buy it: If you want
an honest tailwheel
airplane or love to go
upside down.
Skip it: If you're looking
for a husband-andwife traveler. Tandem
seating doesn't foster
companionship.
SUPER FUN
The Decathlon
features a semisymmetrical wing,
which is superior
for aerobatics.
TURN YOUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE SUPER DECATHLON
IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS THE CHAMP. THE TWO-SEAT TANDEM AIRCRAFT
was a competitor to the Piper Cub, and many found it superior.
As pilots demanded more power and more fun, the Citabria came along
(airbatic spelled backward). The Citabria is aerobatic, but most models don't
have a true inverted fuel and oil system. So while they are good for spin
training and an occasional loop and roll, Citabrias aren't serious aerobats. To
address that need and give pilots a true hardcore performer, the Decathlon
(that's nolhtaced spelled backward) was introduced in 1972.
For personal fun flyers, transitioning to tailwheels, introduction to aerobatics, and aerobatic competition, the Decathlon is unrivaled. It is easy to fly,
doesn't have any bad habits, is relatively inexpensive, and looks great. But for
more serious aerobatic performances, it lacks big power. That's where the
Super Decathlon comes in.
With a 180-horsepower Lycoming AEIO-360, fully inverted fuel and oil
system, and aerobatic limits of plus 6 and minus 5 Gs, the Super Decathlon is
a true aerobat. Earlier models had wooden wing spars, although an aluminum
retrofit is possible and generally preferable.
24 FLIGHT TRAINING MARCH 2019
SPEC SHEET
American Champion Super Decathlon
SPECIFICATIONS
Powerplant
Fuel capacity
180-horsepower
Lycoming AEIO
360-H1B
with fully inverted
fuel and oil systems
2
22 ft 11 in
7 ft 8 in
32 ft
1,305 lb
1,950 lb, 1,800 lb
for aerobatics
40 gal
PERFORMANCE
Cruise speed
Range
Fuel burn
G limits
122 knots
416 nm
9.6 gph
+6, -5
Seats
Length
Height
Wingspan
Empty weight
Max gross weight
Flight Training - March 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - March 2019
Contents
Flight Training - March 2019 - Cover1
Flight Training - March 2019 - Cover2
Flight Training - March 2019 - Contents
Flight Training - March 2019 - 2
Flight Training - March 2019 - 3
Flight Training - March 2019 - 4
Flight Training - March 2019 - 5
Flight Training - March 2019 - 6
Flight Training - March 2019 - 7
Flight Training - March 2019 - 8
Flight Training - March 2019 - 9
Flight Training - March 2019 - 10
Flight Training - March 2019 - 11
Flight Training - March 2019 - 12
Flight Training - March 2019 - 13
Flight Training - March 2019 - 14
Flight Training - March 2019 - 15
Flight Training - March 2019 - 16
Flight Training - March 2019 - 17
Flight Training - March 2019 - 18
Flight Training - March 2019 - 19
Flight Training - March 2019 - 20
Flight Training - March 2019 - 21
Flight Training - March 2019 - 22
Flight Training - March 2019 - 23
Flight Training - March 2019 - 24
Flight Training - March 2019 - 25
Flight Training - March 2019 - 26
Flight Training - March 2019 - 27
Flight Training - March 2019 - 28
Flight Training - March 2019 - 29
Flight Training - March 2019 - 30
Flight Training - March 2019 - 31
Flight Training - March 2019 - 32
Flight Training - March 2019 - 33
Flight Training - March 2019 - 34
Flight Training - March 2019 - 35
Flight Training - March 2019 - 36
Flight Training - March 2019 - 37
Flight Training - March 2019 - 38
Flight Training - March 2019 - 39
Flight Training - March 2019 - 40
Flight Training - March 2019 - 41
Flight Training - March 2019 - 42
Flight Training - March 2019 - 43
Flight Training - March 2019 - 44
Flight Training - March 2019 - 45
Flight Training - March 2019 - 46
Flight Training - March 2019 - 47
Flight Training - March 2019 - 48
Flight Training - March 2019 - 49
Flight Training - March 2019 - 50
Flight Training - March 2019 - 51
Flight Training - March 2019 - 52
Flight Training - March 2019 - 53
Flight Training - March 2019 - 54
Flight Training - March 2019 - 55
Flight Training - March 2019 - 56
Flight Training - March 2019 - Cover3
Flight Training - March 2019 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com