Design

Designed to compete with the Pitts Special by Frank Christensen originally of Salt Lake City, Utah,[1] the Eagle II is marketed in kit form for homebuilding. It set a new standard for completely documented homebuilding kits that revolutionized the homebuilding industry. The Eagle II is a small aircraft of conventional configuration with single-bay, equal-span staggered biplane wings braced with streamlined flying and landing wires and an I-strut to form a box truss. The pilot and a single passenger sit in tandem underneath a large bubble canopy. The tailwheel undercarriage is fixed, with the main wheels mounted on spring aluminum legs. The main wheels are housed in streamlined fairings. The fuselage and tail are constructed of chrome moly steel welded tube, with the forward fuselage skinned in aluminum and the rear fuselage and tail covered in fabric. The wing structure is Sitka spruce wood and fabric covered. The engine cowling is fiberglass. By 2011 over 350 aircraft were flying.[2][3]

Operational history

Christen Eagle II

In 1979, the Eagles Aerobatic Team (Charlie Hillard, Tom Poberezny, and Gene Soucy) chose the Christen Eagle as a replacement for their Pitts Special airshow act “The Red Devils”. The act continued until 1995. All three Christen Eagles hang from the lobby of the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.[4]

Variants

Christen Eagle I
Single Seat Variant. Lycoming AEIO-540 260 hp (190 kW). First design model, built at the San Carlos Airport. 4 Airframes built, one was White with Black Feathers now based in Dallas Texas, the other 3 are in the EAA Museum in Oshkosh WI.
Christen/Aviat Eagle II
Most common variant, two-seat dual controls. Lycoming AEIO-360 200 hp (150 kW).
Christen Super Eagle I 540
Very rare, two built. Lycoming AEIO-540 300 hp (220 kW). Formerly flown by the IRON EAGLES AEROBATIC TEAM, now owned by Professional Pilots based in Texas and Alaska
Christen Super Eagle II
Several examples built, two seats, limited fuel tanks.

Christen Eagle

Aircraft NameChristen Eagle
Specifications
Powerplant1 × Lycoming AEIO-360-A1D, 200 hp (150 kW)
Length17 ft 11 in
Height6 ft 6 in
Wingspan19 ft 11 in
Seats2
Empty weight1,025 lb
Max gross weight1,578 lb
Range380 miles
Max level speed, sea level210 mph
Cruise Speed140 mph
Service ceiling:17,000 ft
Rate of climb 2,100 ft/min

References

  1. ^ Frank L. Christensen
  2. ^ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 94. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. ^ Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 98. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. ^ “Christen Eagles The Iron Eagles Aerobatic Team flew 2 identical Christen Eagle 540 aircraft from 1992-2014”. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.