American Champion Unveils Xtreme Decathlon

Pia Bergqvist

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 10:28 PM ET

Verified

Xtreme Decathlon

Key Takeaways:

American Champion introduced the Xtreme Decathlon, a new, more powerful version of the Super Decathlon designed for aerobatic training.
The aircraft features a 210 hp engine, providing a 15 mph speed increase, nearly 400 fpm better climb, and a 33% improved roll rate of 120 degrees per second.
Design modifications include an increased elevator area, clipped wingtips, and boosted ailerons for enhanced performance and lighter control inputs.
Certification is expected this fall, with initial deliveries planned for this year and a future production rate of 20-40 aircraft annually.

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On the opening day of AirVenture, American Champion introduced a new, more powerful version of the Super Decathlon called the Xtreme Decathlon. The airplane is intended for aerobatic training and the working prototype that is on display at the show will eventually go to a Melbourne, Australia-based flight school called Aerobatics Australia.

The new airplane includes several modifications, the most significant one being a 30-horsepower boost over the Super Decathlon. In addition to improving the performance, the 210 hp Lycoming AEIO-390-A1B6 added 39 pounds of weight to the airplane, but 62 pounds worth of weight reducing modifications more than made up for the difference.