Christen Eagle over South London
 

Sitting outside for after-work drinks, spotted a very unusual shape and sound in the sky, heading NW beneath the Heathrow approach traffic. Although quite distant I thought I could see two wings, ran in and onto FR24:

N75CE Private Christen Eagle II - Planespotters.net Just Aviation

There are 17 on the UK register around the UK. I've seen them at Blackbushe, Popham and White Waltham. Great little aeroplane.

I pride myself that I still have good enough eyes and analytical skill to notice when something very unusual flies around here! It was roughly following one of the occasional approach routes for City Airport. I knew it was not a Rapide from Duxford because the sound was wrong! Several other unusual / "miscellaneous" aircraft were also showing on FR24 as in the area, but I could not see them.

It looks like the lovechild of a Pitts Special and a Pilatus :) Was it flying inverted when you saw it mr joyride ? :}


SHJ

At that range I doubt if I could have discerned if it was upside or not! Having watched and discussed here "The Lady Who Flew Africa" I actually wondered if it might be a Stearman as the front looked blunt from viewpoint, but then it was little more than a tiny black smudge in the sky!

N75CE landed at Durham Tees Valley at 21:27 0n7/7/15 from Biggin Hill
Regards
Jetstar.8

Cheers J8! It disappeared from FR24 soon after crossing the Thames and into north London. It was nice to see something different, but presume a private single-engine plane must have had special clearance for that route, I can't help wondering who/why!

It looks like this aircraft now resides at Durham Tees Valley, out of interest the pilot's other aircraft are a Gulf and Challengers!