GP Christen Eagle
 

I've been reading the review about the GP Christen Eagle, looks like a nice plane to me. In Europe it costs about 500 euros (about 390 US dollars). I have a 3W50i waiting for a plane. Is anybody flying this combination ? Would the 3W50 be a good choice for this plane ? Is the plane worth the money or are there any bad habits I should know about.
Thanks for your replies.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Seen two fly and both were nice. One had a ZDZ48 I think and it was definately sufficient, the other had a ST G3250, that was under powered. I think it will be brilliant with you 3W50. However, you will need to hack at the firewall to get your carb in. :) She looks great in flight, I would love one but am thinking more of something like the Sky Shark RC one. It has a much lighter wing loading but will probably not be good for a gasser of 50 cc.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Your exchange is wrong.

500 Euro = 651 dollars.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Yep, you are right about the exchange. Wrote this message rather late. LOL
Guess my mind was sleeping already.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

No prob buddy. The reason I know this is because I got slammed on the exchange for my Airworld FW 190. The dollar is sooooo weak. It hasn't been this bad in a very long time. John

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

John, I see you have an airworld FW 190. I have a airworld Katana T30. Do you like your plane ? Mine is a little bit heavy, but well made.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Corsair 01,

Not sure about the weight of the plane yet. Too early to tell. My guess it will be around 48 pounds or so. I have all the formers in, flaps cut, ailerons, elevator hinged, reinforced the fuse with kevlar/carbon fiber, and now installing the retracts. I have Sierra's Giant scale retracts and fan to help cool my Moki 215 radial. I've heard nothing but good things about Airwolrds 190 so I'm hoping I'll have the same luck. We'll see come spring time. My scheme for the plane is a "Captured" one from the United States. John

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Looks like it's gonna be a real hit. Good luck with it. Hope to see some pictures on universe.com sometime.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Hello,

Last saturday my Gp Eagle was airborn for the first time. It went very good. I'm running a ZG45 with 20x8 prop.
I've noticed it's a very easy flying ariplane. But I bought it in the Netherlands for about 600 euro's.
I see the box costs about $399, that's alot less, but which company ships the plane to Holland?

Greetz,

Thierry

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Wow.. you gonna hate me for this, lol... I just bough a new in the box GP Christen Eagle at a swap meet for $150. I am going to put the Fugi 50 EI in it. I also got the new Rare Bare from Thunder Tiger for $200 and new Saito 180 to go with it for & 250.

I let you know how they all fly when I get that far,

Regards,
Randy

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Hi Thierry,

Nice to have a reply from somebody from the "neighbourhoud". Do you happen to know the weight of your plane? What about the landings, are they easy or a bit tricky. Is the Zenoah equiped with a standard muffler ? Is it powered enough or would you like some more for it.
I sure hope you have many happy flights with it.

Greetings,
Ronny

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Hi bluestratos,

You can call yourself very lucky with a deal like that. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for the reply.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Hello Ron,

Well what about the weight I can tell I measured it a while ago without the smoke system builded in, it was within the maximum weight defined on the specs. I don't remember the count but it was in any way acceptable. The smoke system adds some 300 gram on the CG. But that's should not be noticed in flight.

Anyway about last Saturday. I was scared ****-less because I started building the plane about 5 months ago, relaxed in evening times. Spend some money here and there. At the end spended a lot of money on the plane. I practiced and practiced on Real-Flight G2 for about 3 months on a row, trying to land and fly 4 point rolls, knife edges and all other stuff. I practiced a lot at stall speed landings and found out it steers best at stall speed with rudder.
I've read alot about landing start taking off bi-planes and I can tell you I, last Saturday was scary. BUT I was a pro landing the plane in the simulator, so why not in real.
Last weekend was special, because it was to be the first time I give an new airplane airborne for the first time. Normally I give the transmitter to a known-to-be-good pilot and give him a try. I decided this time to do it on my own. I rather give myself the blame than somebody else.
This is my second big scale plane, the other is a midwest extra300s so I'm aware of flying the big ones and know there differences compared to there smaller counterparts.

At the field 15 people stared at me while building the eagle up and asked some advise from a guy (Rene Boerlage) about landings. He said: Just keep the speed up when you land, that's it.
Okay engine running, doing some final test and up to the strip. Added some power and a very little bit of rudder than, oops she's airborne already at half gas. Wow so easy! Giving here some altitude and noticed to much up so I trimmed here down. Leveled out an flew some ovals. Pointed here nose into the wind at high altitude and tried to lower the airspeed. Well I could not let here stall because the speed was that absurd slow so made a mental note; that speed at 1/3 gas and still stable. I mean the speed was almost a guy could pick here running out of the sky, amazing slow.
Tried some loopings and rolls, absolutely cool!!
Then it was time to land, lower the altitude knowing to give the plane power at turning the plane into the wind at low speed, about 1/2 gas. Coming in, playing with the gas and just when you think you can pull back the power, just wait 2 seconds longer, you'll see it yourself. If you pull back to soon, you'll run out of elevator and may stall it or fall out of the sky. That doesn't matter when you approach at low altitude and stay there, it will land just sooner.
Slowly applied some elevator and a little more while pulling back the gas and there she was.

Conclusion:
--------------
A very easy flying airplane to me. It slows down very, very quickly but it's not a monster to land, just remember to fly it to the ground.
I've not well tested the zenoah G45 on this plane, I've noticed a 20x10 will probably do much better than currently turning a 20x8. It was pulling the plane across the sky very strong.

I'll post some pictures of the engine combined with a bison smoke muffler I bought in America and shipped with FedEx to Holland.
[link=http://bissonmufflers.com/en/muffler.html?mufflers::listing_id=114105]Here's the link of the muffler[/link]

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Some more photo's

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Looks like you have done a real nice job there. Glad to hear the plane flies so well. I don't believe those mufflers are available in Europe somewhere, that's a pitty because they look real nice. I sure hope you have many nice flights with your new eagle.

Thanks for the reply.

Ron

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

Hey! just wondering if you had anymore feed back on your zg45 & gp-Ce flying ability`s I`am thinking of going with the same setup . knife edge loop, 45dg snap &still have power to come out and go vertical???? any feed back P+ or N- Thank`s.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

I've been thinking about getting this airplane with Brison 3.2 in it. What do you guys think? I've heard mixed reports on landing, but it seems like everyone that likes it just says to keep the power in it and fly it to the ground.

RE: GP Christen Eagle
 

You all will be very happy with those combos!! I'm flying mine with a Moki 1.8 and even at that it's an awesome combo! Have fun fellas.. the GP Eagle is a great plane.