Super Cub vs. Citabria

General
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1

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 :brick: - High Country 650lbs | Top Cub over 1,000lbs
  • Range :compass: - High Country 536 miles | Top Cub 570 miles
  • Cruise :passenger_ship: - High Country 132mph | Top Cub 127mph
  • Takeoff Distance :flight_departure: - High Country 504ft | Top Cub 270ft
  • Landing Distance :airplane_arrival: - High Country 223ft | Top Cub 400ft
  • Climb :man_climbing: - 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 :backhand_index_pointing_down:

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. :man_shrugging:

2

The Top Cub would be my choice. It has limitations but I’m willing to accept them to have that platform. It’s purely preference. Just what I want to see in my hangar.

3

I would probably lean the same way…

If you were purchasing the airplane so that your kids could go through their ratings in it would that change your choice?

4

No not at all. I think a Top Cub is as close as possible to the original Super Cub, which I think is the perfect heirloom for me to teach them in and pass down. I wish my Super Cub was a later O-320 powered variant but mine is a lot easier on the wallet and a lot more pure of an experience.

5

Can you get the Top Cub IFR certified? I mentioned that you can’t in the breakdown above, but now I’m second guessing myself for some reason.

6

You are correct as far as I know. It wasn’t THAT long ago that the Top Cub was only Day VFR.

I don’t know if you can even get a Top Cub anymore. I think the Carbon Cub and XCub preserve the personality of the Super Cub the best but the Top Cub is pretty much an off the shelf Super Cub that had all the popular Bush mods. Thats what they almost all turn into - Nose heavy pigs that still do what nothing else can. Obviously you go a different route with mods if you want to win STOL competitions. Not too many of those guys show up with their belly pods on and 80Gallons of fuel on board.

7

They still offer the Top Cub.