I' soloed on my "Old" Eagle 2 (bought the kit 14 yrs ago and finished it late last fall) early this spring and am wondering about all the downthrust built in. I have an OS FX 46 for power and its great. Problem, even at 1/2 throttle when cutting the power I get a real gain in altitude - not just a few feet! Does anyone know what or if it would hurt to put a small washer or two between the front engine mounts to cut the downthrust a bit and get less pitch up?

It wouldn't hurt a thing, go right ahead.

Have you checked the CG??

I have a .46 SF (predecessor to the FX) in mine because I use it as a practice plane at the begging of the season before flying my pattern and warbird ships. This engine is twice the power the Eagle needs. Adding a washer to decrease the downthrust will help having to compensate with elevator trim if you want to run at full throttle (thats what I did, so I can re-adust it when I use it to train new pilots). Be careful though, because the plane will pitch down more at slower speeds. The downthrust is designed for the Eagle to stay level at slow training speeds. If you are still learning, it is better to put a stop on your throttle that prevents you from going full throttle. Your Eagle should maintain the proper attitude.

You can also try a less pitch prop.

If no matter what you do, it still climbs, then check the incidence of the horizontal stab and also, like was said before, the CG. The .46 FX, although beefier, is lighter than the older K&B's Fox's, and VECO's that the Eagle was designed around. I had to add 4 oz to the nose of mine with the older SF.

Regards,
Scott

Thanks for your responses. Their are now a couple thin washers under the engine. It will be interesting how the Eagle handles. I didn't go into ground handling on takeoff before. At first I advanced the throttle too fast and it would head right like a beetle and sometimes would not rotate. I finally learned to advance to a little above half throttle and she took off beautifully. Rather than right I usually hold a bit of left rudder. Kind'a a "P" factor but on the opposite side due to the down thrust. The blade on the left from the tail was a really high pitch on the ground. Maybe now it will be more "normal"? Don't get me wrong she flies great and is stable..just had to adjust.