American Champion Citabria weight & balance

Data source

Citabria Pilot's Operating Manual Section I p.1-3 (Weight and Balance Limits), Section V Figures 5-1 (Sample Loading Problem), 5-2 (Loading Graph), 5-3, 5-4, 5-5 (Flight Envelopes), Section VI Figure 6-1 (pages 9-50 of citabria-7eca-7gcaa-7kcab-7gcbc__pom__sn-75-and-up.pdf) · version type

• Envelopes are model-specific: select the one for your model (7ECA, 7GCAA/7KCAB, or 7GCBC). Each model has a Normal and an Acrobatic envelope; only the aft limit differs.
• Envelope arms are taken from the Section I CG range table (CG limits vary linearly between 1325 and 1650 lb); flight envelope charts in Section V are plotted as weight vs moment/1000 and were cross-checked by arm = moment/weight.
• The Section I table prints 10.5" as the forward limit at 1650 lb for 7GCAA/7KCAB, but Figure 5-4 shows the forward limit at about 23.4 in-lb/1000 at 1650 lb (≈14.2"), same as other models; 14.2" was used. Verify against your aircraft's limitations.
• Lower envelope weight of 1250 lb is the bottom of the charts; the table states limits for '1325 lbs or less'.
• No baggage allowed for aerobatic flight; baggage 100 lb max Normal category only.
• Fuel: 35 gal usable at 6 lb/gal; total tank capacity not printed.
• Oil: 8 qt (2 gal, 15 lb at 7.5 lb/gal) for 7GCAA/7KCAB/7GCBC; 7ECA 6 qt (1.5 gal, 11 lb, moment -396). The oil station is entered in gallons. The licensed empty weight excludes oil, and full oil may be assumed for all flights (Section V p.5-2 and Figure 5-1).
• Corrected: the oil station had density 6 lb/gal (Avgas), max 15 and default 5 read as gallons, so the default put 30 lb of oil on the nose and pulled the default load ahead of the forward limit. It now uses the POH's 7.5 lb/gal, max 2 gal and default 2 gal (full oil, 15 lb at -36.0, moment -540) per Figure 5-1 p.5-3.
• Sample empty weight 1153 lb @ 12.2" is a sample only; use the aircraft's own Weight and Balance Form. Specification basic empty weights: 7ECA 1060, 7GCAA 1110, 7KCAB 1137, 7GCBC 1150 lb.
• Tandem seating: rear passenger at 42.0"; no separate front passenger station.
• Read from the POH by ZuluCheck and checked by a second reading; verify against your own manual.

For reference only. The aircraft’s approved flight manual and weighing report are the final authority.