Page 14 - World Airshow News Final

INtRODuCINg tHE NExtgEN EAgLES By Jim Froneberger

EAGLES FOR A NEW GENERATION

T he Christen Eagle has been one of the most iconic aero- a new team is bringing Christen Eagle formation aerobatics back

to the airshow circuit. Two 32-year old Millennial aerobatic pilots,
batic airplanes in the world for over four decades. The
Leland Kracher and Tom Braymer, have created an Eagle aerobatic
single-seat Christen Eagle I biplane was designed and
built by Frank Christensen specifically for the Eagles
team for a new generation – the NextGen Eagles.
Aerobatic Team of Charlie Hillard, Tom Poberezny,
and Gene Soucy. That famous trio flew their Eagles in airshow MEEt LELAND kRACHER
performances from 1979 until 1995, setting a record for the Leland Kracher says he’s been told he has been looking up at
longest-running aerobatic team with the same members. The airplanes since before he even knew what they were. His grandfa-
colorful eagle head and feathered wing design makes the air- ther lived in Pensacola Beach, Florida, so trips to visit his grandpa
plane instantly recognizable. While only four Eagle I aircraft included visits to the National Naval Aviation Museum and Blue
were ever built, the two-seat Eagle II became one of the most Angels practices at NAS Pensacola. At home in Baton Rouge, Loui-
popular kit-built aerobatic planes in the world. siana, Leland also went to other area airshows almost every sum-
In 1992, as the Eagles Aerobatic Team was winding down, mer.
Billy Segalla and Bill Gordon formed a two-ship team called the When he was 13, Leland’s parents gave him a gift certificate to a
Iron Eagles, flying two custom Super Eagle aircraft. Also carry- local flight school, and after that, he never looked back. He soloed
ing the familiar Eagle paint scheme, the Iron Eagles’ tight for- on his 16 birthday, but right before he turned 17, his mom fell ill,
th
mation aerobatic flying thrilled airshow audiences for 22 years so Leland was unable to complete his private pilot certificate for
until the team disbanded in 2014. Buck Roetman and Dan Mc- over ten years.
Clung also flew as the Red Eagle Aerobatic Team for several During his mom’s illness, Leland flew virtual airshows on Flight
years in the early 2000s, flying two bright red Christen Eagles. Simulator X, emulating the Iron Eagles team of Bill Gordon and
Now, over ten years after the Iron Eagles last flew airshows, Billy Segalla. One day he contacted Segalla and shared a video of

www.airshowmag.com 14 The Final Issue