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High Country Explorer sneaks into marketplace

American Champion High Country Explorer 

American Champion of Rochester, Wis., says it has sold four of the 180-hp High Country tandem-seat tailwheel aircraft since last Thanksgiving, quietly resuming production that ended last year when engines were unavailable.

American Champion High Country ExplorerThe aircraft has re-emerged with a Lycoming O-360-C4P engine. The aircraft was the first to offer the Superior Air Parts Vantage engine, but production of that engine stopped when Superior Air Parts entered bankruptcy. There are plans to restart the Superior line, but in the meantime, American Champion has switched to Lycoming.

While the base price is $148,900, the aircraft sold so far go out the door at about $168,000. The aircraft photographed for this article May 12 is priced at $179,756. American Champion High Country Explorer cockpit

Officially, the High Country is part of the Explorer line of models. Compared to a straight Explorer, the High Country has 20 more horsepower and a larger diameter propeller, and the propeller requires slightly larger tires for ground clearance.

Alton Marsh

Alton K. Marsh

Freelance journalist
Alton K. Marsh is a former senior editor of AOPA Pilot and is now a freelance journalist specializing in aviation topics.

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