7EC with 90 empty weight

[WWhunter]

I have a friend looking at a 7EC that has a 90 hp engine in it. He is not looking for an LSA but was wondering what the empty weight was. I searched this site but found many 'guesses' and differences in rebuilt planes. What is (was) the original factory weight of an EC? This is a 56 (maybe 59) year model.
I told him my guess is it would be somewhere close to the empty weight of my 7AC-CONV which has a Lyc. O-235. Anyone compare the 90hp EC to the 65hp AC? I read an old article by Bud Davidson that said they performed similar due to the EC being heavier yet with more power.
My buddy said he thinks he can get it for $20K which I think is a steal. The plane has been totally rebuilt and I would guess the rebuilder has nearly double that amount in it.

[MikeB]

Keith,
According to my book (Aeronca, a Photo History) the factory EW was 890 with a gross of 1450). Having said that most of the old birds tend to collect a lot of weight over the years (like the rest of us) with 'add ons'. For example the 7AC factory weight was 740# but most come in over 800#. Mine weighed something like 835# but I had mufflers, metal prop, heavier tail wheel, etc. If you throw it up and it comes down it adds weight.

I've never flown one but heard that the 7EC with the 90 horse is an excellent performer.
At that price and the way you described it, I'd pull the trigger if the guy doesn't care if it's light sport.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[WWhunter]

Thanks Mike! Pulling the trigger is almost exactly what I told him to do!!!

[GWestphal]

Keith, I have a copy of a factory W&B for a 1950 7EC which lists the weight as 904.6 lbs. Useful load of 546.6lbs. This one had the gear taken off -67lbs at 1.3 inches and floats added 169lbs at 15.9 inches for a new weight of 1000.6lbs. Then they added 78 for main tank fuel at -15 inches, pilot 170lbs at 12 inches, oil at 9.4 lbs at -35 inches for a total of most forward cg of 1258 lbs at 11.12inches on floats. Their most rearward on floats was 1466lbs at 18.4inches. For this they had no fuel up front and 66lbs in one wing tank at 24inches, 170lbs in rear seat at 64 inches and 50 lbs baggage at 60inches. Its interesting in comparing these numbers with and old 65 7AC to see if what they used for the same dimensional locations and weight..................Gordy in Mn

[TomFord]

1034 On my airplane, full electrics, radio, transponder, float fittings, (water rudder and horizontal stab fin brackets) old heavy generator, and two paint jobs. It will be lighter when i rebuild it. Oh 26"airstreaks too, with cleveland wheels and brakes

Tom

[vintageair]

According to the calculations mine is 1022 but it's a converted FC so there's some extra steel up front at the firewall, it has full electrical with original generator and starter, big Collins 760VHF and a transponder. Also has Milman spars which are probably a few extra pounds and I'd guess at least three coats of paint on the fuselage. There is a guy out at our airport with a 7AC an no, they don't perform "about the same". Despite the extra weight the 90 is like a rocket ship compared to the 65 - well, at least until you get them leveled off at which point they are probably pretty close speed-wise.

[MikeB]

Now I don't feel so bad. My L16 came in at 950# with the 0200 engine, (2) five gallon wing tanks, Cessna mufflers, Sky-tec starter and Concord 25 AH battery. Also, Superflite which ain't light. Unsure of the ground run (grass) but I seem to climbout at around 800 feet per minute and settles down around 90 mph for cruise. On the other hand the useful is only about 350# but I'm a pretty light guy and it will pretty much handle me and someone light in the rear if I don't load it up with fuel. Despite the 24# battery behind the rear seat the CG is pretty much forward and takes some stick force to maintain 55-60 mph on approach but most Champs are 'nose heavy' with no one in the rear seat which is limited by trim. At least those I've flown.

Be interesting to see how my Chief (85 horse) performs once I finish it.

Mike