VH-PZA Champion
7GCAA Citabria
(c/n 160)
The 7GCAA was a variant of the original
Champion 7ECA Citabria with a 150 hp Lycoming. The
Champion
Aircraft Corporation had acquired the rights for the 7-series Champions
from Aeronca in
1954. By 1970 the brand had been purchased by a revamped
Bellanca Aircraft Corporation.
However,
VH-PZA, having been new in 1967, would have been a Champion built
product. It, along
with VH-PZB was imported by Bill Riley calling himself Riley Aviation
of Colac, Victoria. Both air-
craft
were assembled at Ballarat in September of 1967. VH-PZA is
seen in the shot above by Geoff
Goodall at an
air show at Mangalore in January 1968. Riley was also
a gliding enthusiast (originally
based at
Tocumwal) and became the Australian agent for Blanik
gliders. -PZA was used as a tug for
one of
them at the air show.