Today I woke up at zero dark thirty and flew to Idaho to fetch my new toy, an amazing little Citabria 7GCBC that I believe was a heck of a find. I'm partnering on the plane with my friend David. Jerry Alves may partner with us later on it, so Jerry flew us there in his beautiful 421.



I can get used to all these 421's. It was going to be an easy and quick ride there in pressurized luxury...





Think we have enough screens? Yeah well for the plane I'm picking up, I'm going to the polar opposite... no computers, no button pushing, just pure stick and rudder. I only have about 10 hours of tailwheel time so I brought Mark, my intrepid tailwheel instructor...



It was a quick ride there, but it would be long ride back! Better get some food for the road... look what $7 gets you at the airport restaurant in Idaho!



This was not at all what I expected, I felt bad leaving so much food after eating some of it, but for crissakes I didn't expect them to slaughter an animal out back and put it on my plate! Hopefully some airport dog had his lucky day. Welcome to Idaho I guess!

The pre buy was done as an annual, since it was almost due. Everything checked out great so the wire was done and it was time for the partners to pose with our new bird.



Then Mark and I set off to slog it across Idaho to Nevada and over the Sierra and back to Concord.





The Baron rides like a Mercedes sedan, the Citabria rides like a motorcycle. We were really getting blown all over in the desert thermals, the tail wagging all over the place but it was still fun. Besides, we stopped for gas in Winnemucca and I discovered that chicks dig tail draggers.





Natasha came out and fueled us up, saying how much she loves Citabria's because she wants to learn Acro. I told her that if I wasn't already married Mark would be going home on the bus and she could come with me.





6.2 hours later she is home in my hangar, which is only empty because the Baron is off for paint still. Luckily I'm friends with the guy who owns all the hangars so I might have a good chance of scoring another one.

Congratulations Adam! Looks like fun

Great day and great photos! Congratulations!
I'll be looking for the new bird around the Bay Area.

Really enjoyed your post and photos Adam. Thanks for sharing. Congrats....

Congrats Adam! That's a beautiful bird. What a great hangar you're going to have when your Don Copeland painted Baron returns!

Congrats, Adam..... when I come back from my around the world flight, I am selling one plane and buying a tail dragger....

Nice plane and story to go with it,

Great post Adam. Mark is an outstanding instructor and a good choice. On the way home in pressurized comfort and smooth air, David and I Talked about how we wanted to trade places with you, low and enjoying the scenery. You now have two great planes to fly and I have a nice hangar available close to your Baron hangar. Jerry

Congrats, Citabria's are so much fun. Have fun.

Now that's the way to spend a day! Have fun with your new airplane!

Congratulations Adam! Nice photographs and beautiful plane. Where in Idaho did you fly to? Looks like a fun trip.

You will like the Citabria. I flew one back from Marco Island to NE Indiana for a friend of mine. Only had about 1/2 hour of taildragger time before departing. Easy as pie to fly and so much fun. Enjoy

Picked it up in Caldwell. It's a blast to fly, I love my B55 but man is the Champ a good time. Even after 6 hrs I still had a smile on my face.

Nice find, Adam. That plane looks like nothing but fun.

I've eaten more than one delicious meal at the Caldwell Airport Café. Did you meet the waitress with the black apron bearing a skull and crossbones above the words: "Don't make me poison your food"?

Wow, congratulations! Nothing like having a plane for those low and slow flights.