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Frank Christensen, the Man Behind the Kit Plane Revolution

Flying Staff

Updated Nov 11, 2021 8:53 AM EST

Thirty-five years ago, Frank Christensen started a revolution. He introduced his kit for the Eagle aerobatic biplane at the 1977 EAA Fly-In, and with that, he changed the image of homebuilding.

Christen 801 Inverted Oil System.

Christen 844 Manual Fuel Pump

Eagle II paint design by Budd Steinhilber and Barry Deutsch.

Sport Aviation cover

Sport Aviation insert brochure cover

Christen draftsman, Don Lee, with Eagle kit array

Eagle in Christen Booth at Oshkosh 1977

Christen Eagle II in flight

Eagle wing ribs kit manual page

Black 260 hp super-light Christen Eagle I

Frank proposing Eagles Team to Tom, Charlie and Gene

Tom, Charlie and Gene as the Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team

Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team in flight

Eagle 901 Ailerons Kit in vacuum packaging

John Denver with his Eagle at Oshkosh

Frank Christensen and Herb Anderson at the Afton factory

Flying Staff

Flying StaffEditor

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