Goldberg Eagle 2 Kit

by Thomas
(Ann Arbor, MI)

Commercial Image

Back in 1987, I framed up a Goldberg Eagle 63. This was before the revisions to the Eagle 2. What I found was a kit with easy instructions for someone new to kit building, as well as an included assortment of jigs to help in shaping the control surfaces.

This is something I've never seen in a kit prior. Before getting the chance to complete the build, I had to sell the airframe and supplies.

I did, however, manage to get the kit as far as the covering and radio installation. I found it to be the easiest to work on of any kit I have built since being involved with the hobby.

Having visited fields and seen a variety of trainers back in the day, I personally felt that the Eagle was the most attractive.

The stall and flight characteristics were very comparable to the Sig Kadets that were common at the time, perhaps even more docile. The Eagle 2 would fly with authority with nothing more than a friction bearinged .40 sized K&B engine. These were common due to better economics compared to the OS Max offerings.


These planes were capable of surprisingly slow speeds, with the greased landings that were typical of that model.

About 20 years later, I made the decision to get back into the hobby. Rather than an Eagle 2, I purchased a used Hobbico SuperStar at the local club.

The overall shape and weight of the SuperStar are very similar to the Eagle, except for the lack of a lexan windshield.

The OS .40 LA engine pulled the SuperStar along nicely. Gentle stall characteristics along with its steller slow flight performance were noted.

The airframe handled deadsticks very nicely, with a more than adequate glide ratio which allows ample time to set up for landing.

The wingloading is light enough to allow a smaller engine to pull it through all the maneuvers and stunts. I feel that the Goldberg Eagle 2 will offer the same or perhaps better performance, whether it's the ARF or kit.