American Champion Decathlon

When Champion Aircraft Company at Osceola, Wis., entered the trainer marketplace with the Citabria (airbatic spelled backwards) I contemplated taking on a dealership. However, I did have some reservations about this new airplane. Its G tolerances and controllability around all three axes were my biggest concerns. To ease my mind on both issues, Bob Brown, Champion's president, invited me to visit the factory and fly the airplane.

A lengthy guided tour of the plant proved to me that the airplane was sturdy enough for basic aerobatics, although it was somewhat short on the negative G side for outside maneuvers. After the tour, I strapped into a Citabria and took it up for an evaluation. The performance was good. It got off after a short roll, had a good rate of climb, and up to about 60 degrees nose up, it rolled rather well. However, from there to inverted flight, and through a slow roll, it was very heavy on the controls. My written report was critical of the airplane's shortcomings, but it stated that I was pleased that Champion had made the bold step - certificating an airplane as aerobatic at a time when the industry definitely needed one.

When Champion certificated the Decathlon several years later, my Citabria report may have been of some help to the company. Most every suggestion I'd made was incorporated in the Decathlon. My second evaluation visit to Osceola was much the same as the first, but my appraisal of the Decathlon was a different story. After thoroughly checking it out, I stated that, in my opinion, it was the best basic aerobatic trainer ever built.

The Decathlon is the next step up from simple positive-G aerobatic airplanes like the Aerobat or the Citabria. It has what country and western stars call crossover, the ability to please more than one crowd at a time. It can be a trainer and Sunday fun airplane, or it can do serious airshow work. Patty Wagstaff is among the many pilots who have thrilled crowds using a Decathlon.

Now, after 19 years and somewhere around 10,000 hours, and though other excellent trainers have come on the market, I still prefer the Decathlon. As the years have passed, some weak points have shown up, as they have in any airplane ever built, but with Airworthiness Directives, and American Champion's modern improvements, the Decathlon will be around for a long time.

The Right Start: Attending the Birth
Duane Cole, April 1993
Avalanche! American Champion Super Decathlon
Alton K. Marsh, AOPA Pilot, October 2002

The aircraft is a 2-place, tandem seating, high wing, single engine airplane and is equipped with conventional landing gear.
This airplane is certificated in the normal and acrobatic categories. See the airplane’s P.O.H. for approved maneuvers in the acrobatic category. The airplane is approved for day and night VFR operations when equipped in accordance with F.A.R. 91 or F.A.R 135.

The airplane is powered by a horizontally opposed, four cylinder, direct drive, normally aspirated, air cooled, fuel injected engine. The engine is a Lycoming Model AEIO-320-E2B and is rated at 150 horsepower.

Welded aluminum fuel tanks are located in the inboard section of the wing. Two 20 gallon tanks are standard. Fuel quantity is read from mechanical float type gauges located in the fuel tanks. Fuel tank air spaces are interconnected and positive venting is provided through a tube which protrudes from the bottom of the left wing just outboard of the tank. A check valve is provided at the vent outlet of each tank to minimize inverted fuel loss. To proved limited fuel in the inverted position, a shrouded 1.5 gallon header tank is located in the forward cabin under the instrument panel.

The electrical system is powered by a 60 amp alternator and a lead-acid battery.

	1978 8KCAB Decathlon	1978 8KCAB Super Decathlon	2008 8KCAB Super Decathlon
Engine:
Model	Lyc. AEIO-320-E2B	Lyc. AEIO-360-H1A	Lyc. AEIO-360-H1B
No. Cylinders	4	4	4
Displacement	320 cu. in.	361 cu. in.	361 cu. in.
HP	150	180	180
Carbureted Or Fuel Injected	Fuel Injected	Fuel Injected	Fuel Injected
Fixed Pitch/ Constant Speed Propeller	Fixed Pitch	Constant Speed	Constant Speed
Fuel:
Fuel Capacity	40 gallons	40 gallons	40 gallons
Min. Octane Fuel	80	100
Avg. Fuel Burn at 75% power in standard conditions per hour	8.8 gallons	9.7 gallons	Unknown
Weights and Capacities:
Takeoff/Landing Weight Normal Category	1,800 lbs.	1,800 lbs.	1,950 lbs.
Takeoff/Landing Weight Utility Category	N/A	N/A	N/A
Standard Empty Weight	1,270 lbs. (estimate)	Unknown	1,340 lbs.
Max. Useful Load Normal Category	530 lbs.	Unknown	610 lbs.
Max. Useful Load Utility Category	N/A	N/A	N/A
Baggage Capacity	100 lbs.	100 lbs.	100 lbs.
Oil Capacity	8 quarts	8 quarts	10 quarts
Performance
Do Not Exceed Speed	157 Knots	174 Knots	174 Knots
Max. Structural Cruising Speed	139 Knots	139 Knots	139 Knots
Stall Speed Clean	46 Knots	46 Knots	46 Knots
Stall Speed Landing Configuration	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Climb Best Rate	1000 FPM	1230 FPM	1280 FPM
Wing Loading	Unknown	Unknown	10.64 lbs./sq. ft.
Power Loading	Unknown	Unknown	10 lbs./hp
Service Ceiling	Unknown	Unknown	15,800 ft.