I soloed a TriChamp at the North Little Rock airport in 1962. The SAC base had a flying club where I learned to fly with military instructors. Forty years later I retired from the airlines after flying the B727,737,757/767, L-188, L-1011, DC9, D8, but always loved the Champ.

As requested previously, do you have any data on the Aeronca Chief? I had a 1939 Chief that I learned to fly with in Biloxi, Mississippi in the early 1950's. It was a fine plane, easy to fly, and great to land almost anywhere. I really liked the side by side seating with a nice storage space in the back. I wish I had it back, but I sold it to a Shrimp Boat Captain who used it to spot fish schools off Pascagoula, MS.

I flew the same 7AC Champ, with the same instructor as Jim Kemple stated above. Those were good times, and the Champ was a great A/C!! Went on to get a Commercial, CFI, etc., but the Champ is still one of my favorites. Jim and I were both Air Traffic Controlers at Chase Fld, and remain good friends after nearly 50 years.

Learned to fly at Univ. of Illinois Institute of Aviation starting in 1958 in 7AC champ N84008. U of I had a slew of champs on the ramp as basic trainers. Flew other types there going on to Commercial and CFI rating, but always have a spot in my heart for the champ. One endearing memory I have is looking over the ramp on a windy non-flying day and see the Aeroncas "flying" in their chains. If the wind was from the right direction one main wheel would lift off, and sometimes both mains had daylight under them! Champ wanted to FLY!.

Next 7AC experience was instructiong at the Rota, Spain Navy flying club. My ship (sub tender) was tied up there, so I spent many happy hours at the airfield.

I just became a co-owner of a beautiful 46 7ac. I started flying when I was 15 back in 1966. The airport had used champs and cubs for years; however, shortly before I started my instruction they replaced them with a brand new Cessna 150. So I learned to fly in a 150. It was a wonderful plane and I got my private ticket at 17 and spent time in a 177 and 172. With about 180 hours I stopped flying in my early 20's. So now our kids are grown and on their own. I have an excellent retirement and have started lessons again. This time I am in the plane that eluded me more than 45 years ago. And, she'is waiting for me in her own hanger at a small, private grass airport. Nice.

Ed Mays,my uncle and still living WW2 veteran bought a Champ in the early 60's after catching the "flying bug". At 12 years old,I immediately became his flying buddy.After school and every weekend we were flying somewhere or nowhere in paticular but flying nontheless.We would land on a small island on Lake Berryessa in northern Calif. and go fishing.I would throw a roll of toilet paper out the window and as it unwound, Uncle Ed would fly through it as many times as altitude (or lack of) would allow.One time on a trip to Healsberg the 65hp engine stopped and we had to glide into the airport.
It was Uncle Ed and the Champ that instilled my love of adventure I still have today flying Powered Paragliders at the age of 60.
The best times of my childhood were spent in the back seat of an Aeronca Champ. Thanks Uncle Ed... I love you.

Way back in 1942 ten Navy cadets and ten Army Cadets were sent to Eagle Grove JR. College for ground school. Each morning we rode an old bus to Clarion, IA airport. The airport had two beautiful Aeronca tail dragger airplanes. Most of us 18 year olds had never been near a airplane, let alone in one. Individually we all soloed. For some unknown reason, I happened to solo first with 2.4 hours of instruction. What a great day!

Soloed 7AC in 1958 at Bethany Airport in Ct. I will never forget that day thinking I was in a P-51 all 65 horsepower of it. I have loved aviation since I can remember and have a prop on my wall from the 7AC that lost a gear and I was with my instructor. that prop is my prized possession----it was given to me by the airport a&e.

Do you have any info on the Aeronca Chief?

Do you have any info on the Aeronca Chief?

The first logged flight I have is in 9068B a 7EC and the second in 84395 a 7BCM, next was a straight back 150.

I learned to fly, like so many others, on 3 of these aircraft. One was CF-NMY, a 1946 7AC modified with an 85 hp engine with electric start. The second was CF-JUQ, also a 1946 7AC but modified with a 90 hp engine with electric start. The third was CF-JWZ, a later model "Champ" with factory 90 hp engine and electric start. A few years after getting my licence, in 1973, and a float endorsement, I had the opportunity to check out a friend of mine with a 7AC modified with a 90 hp engine (no electrics) on floats. These aircraft made very good float planes (but not with 65 hp).

I learned to fly in a Champ while in high school in about 1958 at Rhinelander, Wisconsin from Steve Shellbreck, a real bush pilot. The plane had to be propped and quit on us once while practicing forced landings. We put it down in a farm field full of cows. It re-started, seemed to be OK and took off with no problems. Steve was the kind of guy who said take off into the wind even if it meant going cross runway through the weeds, get it over the trees, and go. I had a lot of fun just flying the thing and had to quit when I ran out of money at 26 hours. I re-started flying again in college in a Cessna 150 from Noble Lee at Lakeland Airport in Minocqua, Wisconsin and the airport is now named after Noble. He taught me to fly all over again the correct way and his training saved my life on a flight. I'll never forget him and his wonderful way of teaching me to fly.

The college I attended had an aviation program that allowed WWII veterans to get a private license. I got mine in 1948. They had two Champions and a Chief. I loved them all. I'd like to see more information about the Chief. kp

soloed in 7ac 1957, Ft. Fairfield Maine, dirt field, instructor, John Philbrick, $10.00 an hour rental plus gas,
still have pilots certificate, in 1961 I wanted to buy a Chief, in St. Joseph Mo. cost wass $800.00 but before I could, someone else was testing it and the engine fell out on final apporach.

The foregoing comments brings back fond memories of my first solo in Aeronca 7AC N2731E on 6/26/53 as a young lad of 17 at what is now Tampa International airport. It used to be called Drew Field during the war and there was miles of open areas which is now covered by homes and businesses..The aircraft only had a radio receiver for contact with the tower which meant you "rocked" your wings if you understood the message.In the event the battery powered radio failed, you relied on light gun signals from the tower. Of course, my radio failed on my first solo which made it a memorable landing experience. Great aircraft.

I had a 1946 Champ and loved to fly it. I ground looped it once with no Damage. The right wing just brushed the top of the grass. It did not hit the ground. Used to prop it by myself with the tail wheel tied down. once it was ideling I would untie the tail wheel and Jump in to the cabin and taxie for take off.

My life long adventure, in the world of aviation, began by learning to fly the "real way", in a taildragger. I began my 50yr career in 1955 at Hillcrest Airpark (long since converted to streets, sidewalks, houses and schools)in Logan, Utah owned by Dean Reese (also long departed). I was a student at Utah State University. The aviation dept. owned two 7AC Champs which we flew for $2.25/hr. wet. I soloed 7AC N1618E on July 28, 1955. I couldn't beleive how much better that 65hp Champ performed without Dean in the back seat. God rest his soul. I received my Private in 7AC N84908 Sept 24, 1955. The hours I spent in the 7AC give me a good background for bigger and more powerfull taildraggers. I later flew AT6s and F6F Hellcats as a civilian of course. I owned two Cessna 195s, two Cessna 180s, and two Supercubs and have flown the backcountry in Idaho in the Cubs and 180s, all taildraggers! As someone said before me 'it all started with the Aeronca Champ'. Many years later I was entering the pattern at Allentown, PA ,early one Sunday morning, in a United Airlines 737. A Champ had just turned from base leg to final. The tower called him and insructed him to go around and let United land first. I keyed the Mike and said,"negative myself and my copilot both got our Private tickets in a Champ I will extend my downwind, out of respect for a mighty fine airplane and let the Champ land first." The tower replied," roger the Champ will disregard and continue the approach". On July 28, 2005 I borrowed the 1957 Supercub I had sold to a friend and flew back to Logan Cache Airport and lande on the same runway I had soloed on 50 years to the hour ealier. So my flying career lasted 50 years to the hour. Boy what a ride and it all began with the Air Knocker.

Please don't say ,"Aeronica" It's Aeronca. Study the sylables. Then again some people say "nucular" instead of nuclear.

It's not listed here. There was an Aeronca 15 AC, 4 place aircraft. It had a Continental O-300, 145 hp, 6 cylinder
engine. It was a high wing, fabric covered fuselage and empenage. With all metal wings. I liked the very large windows and low speed performance. It was an excellant sightseeing airplane . We took up passengers over the Thousand Islands from a small dirt strip near the thousand islands bridge in upstate NY. It was a pleasure to fly. This was in the late 1950s. I understand 561 were built.