I hear Citabria owners say all the time something along the lines of “I basically have a Super Cub for half the price” and I’m constantly hearing Super Cub owners call the Citabria something along the lines of a “gay pile of shit”…
- I don’t really have a dog in this fight.
- I have flown both aircraft.
- I would love to own either aircraft someday.
I am just genuinely curious what the differences are. So documenting the relevant points, both quantitive and anecdotal, is something I want to organize here in this topic.
Both aircraft have a variety of models/years to choose from making for endless combinations of the two aircraft to compare. For the purposes of starting this topic, I am going to compare new aircraft. Specifically Cub Crafters TOP CUB and American Champion Aircraft’s HIGH COUNTRY EXPLORER (i have not flown either of these exact variants).
The Top Cub is the closest modern cub to the original PA-18 being produced today (that I am aware of).
The High Country Explorer is the closest Citabria to the Top Cub being produced today (that I am aware of).
Please by all means, if you have different super cub/citabria combo’s, even from different years, that you believe are worth comparing add them to the reply’s. This is just the most logical starting point in my mind for this comparison/conversation.
Both Aircraft have:
- Lycoming O-360-C4P (180 HP Engine)
- Sensenich 76-inch Fixed Pitch Metal Propeller
- Two Tandem Seats
- Tailwheel
- High Wing
- Stick (not yoke)
Diferences:
- Useful load
- High Country 650lbs | Top Cub over 1,000lbs - Range
- High Country 536 miles | Top Cub 570 miles - Cruise
- High Country 132mph | Top Cub 127mph - Takeoff Distance
- High Country 504ft | Top Cub 270ft - Landing Distance
- High Country 223ft | Top Cub 400ft - Climb
- High Country 1,366fpm | Top Cub 800fpm - High country is rated for Aerobatics and can be certified IFR
- Top Cub can be ordered with floats
Am I missing something here? Comment below 
My dream aircraft in this category is hands down the X-Cub, but if I was choosing between these two aircraft I struggle with which one I would prefer. 