1946 Aeronca 7A Champion

The Aeronautical Corporation of America, better known as Aeronca began operations in 1928 as The Cincinnati Aeronautical Corporation.  Antique airplane lovers just know it as Aeronca.  The Champion or “Champ” as it is known colloquially was a natural post war successor to Aeronca’s line of lightweight trainers and military spotter aircraft.  It’s introduction in 1946 was a part of the boom in light aircraft manufacturing that manufacturers hoped would replace their war time production.  While that didn’t happen, and many companies went bankrupt, Aeronca soldiered on and its successor company is still in business churning out airplanes with its same basic design.

 

Jill Manka’s Champ, nicknamed “Lucy”, is a 1946 model so one of the first built.  It features strut braced wings, tandem seating and simple systems.  Jill restored the plane over several years finishing in 2015.