Citabria

J

jesse

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
16,086
Location
...
Display Name
Jesse
Home Airfield
...
So I got myself all excited about renting a Citabria. I called them up to ask about solo requirements.

150 TT
15 hour DUAL

OR

150 TT
80 hours in type (i think)
5 hour DUAL

Crap. Can I borrow yours Dianna?

Considering how my entire tail wheel checkout was two flights for a total of less than 3 hours. I just can't justify this. Lots of money.
 
Last edited:
jesse said:
Considering how my entire tail wheel checkout was two flights for a total of less than 3 hours. I just can't justify this. Lots of money.
Click to expand...

Tailwheel endorsements like that might just be why insurance now requires 10 hours outta everybody. Nothing against you personally, of course :P
 
i dunno richard, got my tailwheel in 3 hrs in a C-140. never felt dangerous...
 
alaskaflyer said:
Tailwheel endorsements like that might just be why insurance now requires 10 hours outta everybody. Nothing against you personally, of course :P
Click to expand...

Got my tailwheel in 5, but that was 2 years ago. I'd feel comfortable on the grass no cross wind, but any crosswind or pavement, and I'd want a CFI riding shotgun until I was sure I'd be ok.
 
My Citabria checkout required 10 hours dual; don't remember a total time requirement, but it probably wasn't a factor at the time. We didn't need the whole ten for the tailwheel endorsement since I had some time going in, but still used most of it. The whole curriculum does take a while: three point and wheel landings, varying crosswinds, different fields, etc.

Even if you don't really NEED all the dual time they require, go ahead and have some fun with it. Hey, if the CFI is rated and experienced to do some aerobatics, you could work that into the mix while you're getting the hours.

Dan
 
When I had my Citabria available for rent, I did not allow solo at all, except on a case-by-case basis. There were four pilots aside from myself I allowed to solo it. Sure, there were a bunch of pilots who are better pilots than me who got turned down for solo, but as an owner that was just the decision I made. Drag a wingtip during a groundloop and the value of the asset drops by 10 grand.

Yes, I know I was excessively conservative, but my plane, my rules.
 
Dan Smith said:
Even if you don't really NEED all the dual time they require, go ahead and have some fun with it. Hey, if the CFI is rated and experienced to do some aerobatics, you could work that into the mix while you're getting the hours.

Dan
Click to expand...

Of course you could still have fun with it. The problem is I can't justify 15 hours worth of dual for renting a Citabria. That is a lot of money I could spend on more useful things (instrument rating).
 
alaskaflyer said:
Tailwheel endorsements like that might just be why insurance now requires 10 hours outta everybody. Nothing against you personally, of course :P
Click to expand...

The place I did my endorsement at:

a) Didn't have requirements. They signed you off when you were ready and the FARs were met.

b) Let you SOLO their airplanes after you were done. Considering how they are never busted up they must have pretty good judgment.

Hell some places I've rent airplanes at had 172s busted up all the time. The quality of instruction means a lot.
 
Took me over ten hours in a Champ to get a tailwheel endorsement. We never left the pattern. I don't know why, but I just had a hard time with it. Maybe it was just the Champ. I've only flown Corben Baby Ace and Citabria's since. Anyways, those 10+ hours were darn good training and money well spent -- never had a close call in the 500 + hours since.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top