Tag: civilian aircraft

• Citabria

  In 1964, Champion Aircraft Corporation rolled out the first Citabria, a two-seat high-wing airplane based on the Aeronca Challenger which had come out shortly after World War II. The fabric-covered Citabria is an excellent aerobatic and training plane, but bush pilots also favor its short takeoff and landing (STOL) characteristics whether it’s on wheels, skis, […]

• Extra 300

  The Extra “Flugzeugbau” 300 is considered by many aviation experts to be the premiere airplane for serious pilots who compete in unlimited category aerobatic competitions. Designed and engineered by aerobatic pilot Walter Extra, the Extra 300 and its variations have helped several pilots win in competitions all over the world. During the 1988 World Aerobatic […]

• Piper Commanche

  When Piper introduced the PA-24 Comanche in 1957, the company marketed it as a low-cost first-time buyer’s aircraft. The low-wing PA-24-180 Comanche with a 180 HP engine is somewhat more complicated to fly than a Cessna 172. As with the 172, the PA-24-180 Comanche is a four seat all-metal aircraft, but the gear is retractable […]

• Piper Tri-Pacer

  The first Piper Tri-Pacer was the PA-22 model. Piper manufactured 7,668 of these airplanes from 1952 through 1960. The name Tri-Pacer is based on its tricycle landing gear configuration, though a number of owners have converted the plane to a taildragger, with the third wheel being located beneath the tail. One of the unique features […]

• Sukhoi SU-31

  The Sukhoi Su-31 has been a top-performing aerobatic plane since production of it began in 1994. Many pilots from countries around the world often fly it in competitions. The Su-31 can withstand tremendous G-forces and can handle repeated maneuvers that generate +12 or -10 Gs. Sukhoi intentionally designed the Su-31 to be less stable than […]

• Yakovlev Yak-52

  The former USSR’s Design Bureau originally designed the 360-HP Yak-52 as a light aerobatic trainer for the military. After training in the Yak-52, the pilot would graduate to a jet airplane. Today, mostly private owners use the tricycle-geared two-seat aircraft as an aerobatic plane. The Yak-52 is also desirable for those who operate on grass […]

• Military Surplus

  Military surplus aircraft refers to those aircraft that are no longer in use by the armed forces of a country. Such military surplus aircraft are used in various ways. Companies have been established which convert surplus military aircraft into civilian aircraft to be sold to individuals. More frequently than complete aircraft, you will find parts […]