On a rainy day with the airplane in the hangar, an aerobatic student and an instructor sit on folding chairs and talk through what happens if the engine quits at the top of a loop, or a spin doesn’t stop when it should. That kind of chair flying is some of the most useful training an aerobatic pilot does.
The Super Decathlon is a tandem two-seat, tailwheel aerobatic trainer with inverted fuel and oil systems, and this listing covers the 8KCAB with 180 horsepower. With the instructor often seated behind, there’s no easy pointing at switches, so both people need the same picture of every procedure.
A model-specific checklist is the script for those sessions. Read the emergency section aloud, touch each control in turn, and compare it with the POH until there are no surprises.
Quick answer: CheckMate Bellanca / American Champion Super Decathlon 8KCAB 180 HP Checklist is a model-specific cockpit checklist for pilots who fly the Super Decathlon 8KCAB 180 HP. It suits aerobatic students, instructors and owners of the 180 hp Super Decathlon. It’s offered as the original CheckMate, CheckMate+ and the personalized CheckMate Pro, with the CheckMate versions in Standard and Compact sizes. It supplements, not replaces, the airplane’s POH/AFM, so confirm it matches your aircraft’s exact model, year, engine and handbook before relying on it. It’s available on Skyfarer and at Skyfarer Shop.
Which version to choose
- CheckMate. The design that started it all, with the familiar legacy look, in Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
- CheckMate+. Updated design language for better readability and safety, with passenger and crew briefing prompts, abort plan prompts and ATC communications prompts. It includes an instant low-res, black-and-white temporary digital download, and comes in Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
- CheckMate Pro. A personalized version of CheckMate+. Add your tail number, name or phone number, your empty weight and useful load, and details for up to five airports you visit often. Typical production time is within 48 hours; Standard (6.5″ x 9″) or Compact (5″ x 7″) size.
Before you fly with it
- Line it up with the POH. Compare every section with the POH/AFM, emergency procedures included, and treat the handbook as the authority wherever they differ.
- Confirm the exact airplane. Make sure the checklist matches your aircraft’s model, year and engine, plus any supplements for installed avionics or modifications.
- Chair-fly the emergency section. Sit in the airplane on the ground, touch each control as you read the emergency procedures, then confirm every item against the POH.
- Use it every flight. Run it the same way on every flight, short local hops included, so it’s a habit rather than a formality.
Pilot tip: Chair flying works best when it’s specific. Pick one emergency, read it from the checklist, run it from memory while touching each control, then read it again to see what you missed.
More photos
Where to buy
CheckMate Bellanca / American Champion Super Decathlon 8KCAB 180 HP Checklist is sold by Skyfarer Shop. Find it on the Skyfarer marketplace or order directly from Skyfarer Shop. Either link shows the current price, shipping options and return terms.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cover a Super Decathlon with a different engine?
This listing is titled for the 8KCAB with 180 hp. If your airplane has a different engine or modifications, check the procedures against its own POH and supplements.
How do I know it matches my airplane?
Compare it with your aircraft’s POH/AFM and supplements, and confirm the model, year and engine. The handbook for your specific airplane takes priority over any checklist.
What can CheckMate Pro personalize?
Your tail number, name or phone number, empty weight and useful load, and details for up to five airports you visit often. Typical production time is within 48 hours.
