@
UNSAVALL
Jr. delighted a crowd of
on hand at the Athens Air-
afternoon to watch the
of his home built
biplane.
Used barrel rolls and loops,
With smoke, as he flew
overhead the estimated 500 people who
joined in the festivities.
The crowd, much greater than the 150
anticipated before the event, was not
disappointed as Royall took to the
heavens twice to give a total 45-minute
demonstration of the biplane.
Guests were not only treated to an air
FROM THE GROUND as Dan Royall made his maiden
Christian Eagle ii airplane at Athens Airport Sunday. Royall
crowd with air loops and low )asses. (Staff photo by Ann Roan-
PRESS
1981
show, but also enjoyed a catered bar- Royall said that with his new Eagle
becue dinner and live entertainment he expects to be ready to try for the
from a country and western hand. The championship within two years.
entire airport area was lined withspec- Royall has been flying for 30 years
tutors, including many who had flown
in for the afternoon in their own craft .............
The flight was the culmination of
work began last September. Royall,
assisted by Roy and Barbara Walker
and his son, James, took on what was to
become a 15-bour-per-day, seven-day-
per-week job of constructing the craft.
The Christian Eagle II can reach
speeds of 210 miles per hour and is
designed as an aerobatic vehicle.
Royall started with a kit and
drawings and bought materials through
Christian Industries, and assembled it
a piece at a time.
The plane weighs 1,050 pounds, has a
20-foot wing span, is 18 feet, 6 inches
long and stands 6 feet, 6 inches high.
The 200-horsepower engine is fuel injec-
ted.
Prior to the takeoff Royall and his
crew removed decorative streamers
and bouquets of red roses from the
craft• After entering the cockpit he
gave a "thumbs up" sign to well-
wishers along the runway.
Following the flight Royall said his
craft "did everything we hoped and
more•"
"I had to build my own plane to get
the performance level I need for com-
petition," Royall said. "My ultimate
goal is to fly on the olympic team in
world championship competition."
HOgg & Sons Book Bindery , Inc
Springport, Mich. 49281
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and plans to have fun flying his plane where he will enter the Southwest Ex-
cress-country and taking it to various perimental Aircraft Association Show.
shows around the country. He plans to Royall is owner of Royall Chevrolet,
be in Kerrville Sept. 18 through 20 Buick, AMCand Jeepin Malakoff.
DAN ROYALL, (right). assisted by Roy Walker, removed the red ribbon from his Christian Eagle il plane prior to the
takeoff of the maiden flight Sunday afternoon. A large crowd was on hand to witness the flight of the craft. ¢Staff photo by
Ann Rounsavall)
"The Heartbeat Of This Progressive Territory"
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