Airplanes exist for all kinds of reasons. Getting from
A to B, hauling from A to B and flying from A to blow up
B. But the planes that seem to enamor pilots most are the
ones that exist simply so we can revel in the miracle of
flight. The Super Decathlon is just such a plane and
that's why it's such a perfect choice for ParkZone's next
park flyer subject.
Introduced in 1977, the Super Decathlon can trace its
roots all the way back to the venerable Aeronca Champ. To
anyone who knows the Champ, this lineage is fairly
apparent when viewing the planes side by side, but that's
where the similarities end. Unlike its 80hp forebear, the
Super Decathlon boasts 180hp, a constant speed prop,
semi-symmetrical airfoil and is stressed to withstand as
much as 6-positive and 5-negative Gs. Its combination of
light wing loading and ample horsepower also allow it to
achieve stimulating climb rates in the 1,200 and 1,300
feet per minute range.
But while it's wild enough to take pilots to the edge,
the Super Decathlon is still tame enough to forgive when
they lack finesse. It's also one of the easiest tail
draggers to take-off and land. For these and so many other
reasons, it's little wonder that thousands of pilots the
world over have a soft spot for the Super Decathlon.
