Designed by Frank Christensen as a competitor to the Pitts Special, the Christen Eagle II set a new standard for completely documented homebuilding kits, revolutionizing the homebuilding industry and quickly earned its place as a top aerobatic competitor.
In 1979, Charlie Hillard, Tom Poberezny, and Gene Soucy brought the Eagle into the airshow spotlight as the Eagles Aerobatic Team. Frank built the three single-place Eagles specifically for Charlie, Tom, and Gene, and they flew together from 1979 to 1995. In that time, the Eagles earned a reputation for precision, showmanship, and incredibly consistent formation work, setting the standard for civilian formation aerobatics.
From 1992 to 2014, Bill Gordon and Billy Segalla carried that tradition forward as the Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team, flying higher-power Super Eagles, showing crowds just how capable the airframe could be.
Today, the NextGen Eagles are bringing the iconic Christen Eagle back as a continuation of that legacy, carrying forward the standards set by the pilots who came before us. With minimal wingtip separation, clean opposing passes, lots of smoke, and beautiful color, Leland Kracher and Stephen Covington fly a nostalgic, high-energy show for first-timers and long-time airshow fans alike. Our goal is simple: honor what came before, continue the standard of excellence, and keep the Eagle flying for the next generation.
