Homebuilt Highlights

This month’s Hi-Light is N-323VW..”The Little Citabria

That Could” …(and will again)”

There was once upon a time an Citabria that just loved to

fly. It had a very powerful engine of some 180 HP with

inverted oil and fuel and could leap, roll and loop with ease

and some margin of grace. 

When compared to a Pitts or Acro Sport it may come up

 a little short of spectacular.  

However, when in the hands of a smooth and experienced

jockey, the little Citabria could compete as a sportsman

class and possibly in the intermediate class with success.

A few years ago I was called to take a look at the “Little

Girl” because it had injured its left leg and gear structure.

Not to be denied a long and bright future, I and others set

the broken leg and the fractures knitted and healed very

nicely. I even got to fly in the air craft after the repairs and

enjoyed its ability to “dance in the sky”.  

One dreadful day, some months later, N-323VW fell prey

to the “Demons of the Ground” once more. While doing its

best to let its pilot “live on” after suffering an engine out

and a forced unplanned landing, it once again suffered

some injuries to its other leg and joints along with a few

abrasions.

Well, its owners decided that with the structural

damages, bumps and bruises a total replacement of

damaged steel and a complete trip to the beauty salon for a

facial was in order.  

This little story brings us to the current status of the

Citabria owned by Frank Civera, Dwight Smith, Donna

Gray, Charles Hubbard and Norm Griggs.

To date the aircraft has been totally stripped, steel repaired

and all flying surfaces are covered. Color is soon to be

added with a traditional Citabria sunburst paint scheme.

The engine is in good shape and had no prop strike and

from the workmanship that I observed this Citabria should

turn out as good as new.  

The moral of this story is that you can Bounce’m, Bend’m,

Burn’m, Ball’m up and even Bury’m but you can, with a

lot of work, determination and MONEY put just about any

aircraft back in the air with reliability. There is a certain

amount of gratification and enjoyment of “bringing one

back to life” as demonstrated by this rebuild and others in

our EAA Chapter. Some of the most beautiful airplanes in

our chapter required tons of repairs.  

I’m looking forward to again flying in the “Little Citabria

That Could” (and will again)!!