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Anatomy of a Citabria Project Page 2
There was a new innovation from American Champion Aircraft that allowed a retrofit of a baggage door; if you ever tried to retrieve anyting from the back of the cargo area of a Citabria, you know how enviable this addition is - and it requires some welding and fabric removal. So, this is the best time to do it. The old rubber battery box was in ill repair and required vent and overflow tubes that cut through the belly fabric. Again, American Champion has incorporated the sealed recombinant gas battery into the new production, so while the cover is off... and so it goes. | |
Several years ago, I was guided through a restoration hangar in Bartow, FL to see some very unique aircraft projects, including a genuine Spitfire. By coincidence, the owner of Aero Fabrication & Restoration Inc., Harry Stenger Jr. was a friend of Joe Scruggs, who volunteers at our display at Sun 'n Fun, and I was introduced. Note that Harry worked at Lake Wales Aero, a renowned Bellanca shop for many years, and has restored and flies his own 1977 Super Viking. Totally convinced that this IS the place to get the needed repairs, I flew Sparky down in late October [2009] and found his hangar full of a priceless collection including a Grumman Goose, a Waco biplane, a Davis D1W, etc. This is excellent company for my humble bird and a testament to the quality of work to be expected. 
Sparky with rudder removed.
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