Dorsal vs. Standard Chief

[Clyder]

I'm restoring a 1939 Chief with a fixed fin. Yesterday Aircraft Spruce who is providing an envelope for me, asked if my Chief was a "Standard" or a "Dorsal". My AI says it's a "standard" but wasn't sure what the term "dorsal" referred to. Does anyone know? Certainly the envelope must fit over that fixed fin and I hope they aren't calling that a dorsal. Clyde

[barnstmr]

...Aircraft Spruce who is providing an envelope for me, asked if my Chief was a "Standard" or a "Dorsal". My AI says it's a "standard" but wasn't sure what the term "dorsal" referred to. Does anyone know? ... Clyde

Clyde,
Some people refer to the vertical stabilizer as "vertical fin" or "dorsal fin". Early 7AC and 11AC airplanes with A65 Continental engine came from the factory with a fixed (small) vertical stabilizer. This would be referred to as the "standard". Later Aeronca models with C85, C90, and O-200 came from the factory (or were modified) with a larger tail. The difference involved adding a curved fillet between the fuselage and leading edge of the vertical fin.

Maybe someone will be able to post photos of the difference between the large and small (standard) dorsal fin.

[RickH]

A 39 Chief will have the standard fin unless it was modified during its lifetime. My '46 11AC came with a standard fin, but it was replaced with the larger 11BC dorsal after being flipped on its back sometime in 1947.

[rkittine]

My Chief got the addition of the Larger Dorsal Fin when the C-85 / 0-200 Conersion was done.

[rkittine]

Trying to make the picture bigger so you can see it. My 7CCM also has the larger Fin due to the C-90.

[Clyder]

Thanks to all replies. I think all agree that the "standard" was the smaller fin whereas the "dorsal" referred to the enlarged fin. It's obvious from the pictures that mine is the smaller fin. I was afraid that "standard" might apply to a removable fin and I certainly want to have my envelope fit over that fin. Clyde

[james gevay]

The extended dorsal fin is not much more than a long sweeping tube that attaches about half way up the leading edge of the vertical fin, and extends part way towards the cabin and attaches on the top longeron.
If there's any confusion about the word dorsal, remember, when it comes to fish and airplanes, dorsal is on the back, and ventral is on the belly.