Beautiful example of a Decathlon owned and maintained by an IA and Delta Pilot

Home Airport(s)

KEKY - Bessemer National Airport - Mitchell Field

Serial Number

411-78

Registration Number

N5503A

Manufacturer year

1978

Make/Model

Bellanca 8KCAB Decathlon

Airframe

A&P​/​IA​/​Delta Pilot Owned and Maintained for 12 years

Engine Details (e.g. Total Engine Time; Suggested TBO; Hours Remaining)

Lycoming IO-320-E2B (150HP) (2000 TBO) SMOH: 958 + (actively being flown)

Propulsion

Sensenich Fixed Pitch Prop

Avionics

Appareo Stratus ESGi ADSB Microair Avionics M760-Q Transceiver NAT Intercom Control Panel

Interior/Exterior; Additional Equipment

Exterior: Bahamas Blue and White Interior: STC SA312CH - 5 Point Harness for front and back seats. Premium Cabin Cover Hand Tow Bar Softie Seatpak Emergency Chutes (2)

Maintenance Details

March 2026 Annual March 2026 ADSB 24 Month Recertification All Logs Since New

Aircraft Model Overview (Reference only)

The Bellanca Decathlon (model 8KCAB) is a two-seat, tandem aerobatic aircraft developed from the Citabria line and designed for a broader aerobatic envelope, including sustained inverted flight. With a symmetrical-airfoil wing and inverted fuel and oil systems, it is stressed for positive and negative maneuvers and has long served as a popular platform for aerobatic training and sport flying. It combines genuine aerobatic capability with approachable, forgiving manners. Power for the standard Decathlon comes from the Lycoming AEIO-320, a fuel-injected four-cylinder rated at 150 horsepower, while Super Decathlon variants use the 180-horsepower AEIO-360. So equipped, the type cruises around 95 to 115 knots and climbs at roughly 1,000 feet per minute, prioritizing maneuverability, control authority, and vertical performance over cross-country speed. The airframe uses a welded steel-tube fuselage with fabric covering and a strut-braced high wing, a rugged, time-proven layout. The wing incorporates a symmetrical airfoil suited to inverted flight, and control response is crisp and well-harmonized for aerobatics. Conventional landing gear and light weight make it capable on grass and shorter strips, while demanding tailwheel proficiency. Seating is tandem for two, placing the solo pilot near the aircraft's center of gravity for aerobatic work, with good visibility from both positions. Panels are simple and aerobatic-oriented, typically including a g-meter and the instruments needed for maneuvering flight, with equipment varying by aircraft. Baggage capacity is limited, consistent with the type's training and sport-aerobatic mission. In the used market the Decathlon is valued as one of the more accessible dedicated aerobatic aircraft, with an active owner community and broad instructor familiarity. It competes with other aerobatic trainers on capability, durability, and running costs rather than travel utility. Fabric condition, wing-spar type and inspection status, and overall airframe history are central to valuation given the type's aerobatic use. Overall, the 1978 Bellanca Decathlon is a capable, enduring aerobatic aircraft well suited to training, proficiency, and sport flying for pilots who value maneuverability and control feel. It rewards owners who maintain tailwheel and aerobatic currency and who prioritize spar-inspection compliance and fabric upkeep in evaluating any individual airframe.