- Barrows Bearhawk
Infobox Aircraft
name=Bearhawk
caption=
type=Experimental aircraft
manufacturer= Homebuilt / AviPro
designer=Bob Barrows
first flight=
introduced=1995
retired=
status=
primary user=
more users=
produced=
number built=25+
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=PatrolThe Bearhawk is a 4 place, high-wing plans built airplane developed by
United States designerBob Barrows . Thecockpit is somewhat larger than that of the otherwise comparableCessna 172 , and the plane has excellent utility and visibility. It is a taildragger (conventional) landing gear airplane that can accept a wide variety of engine options. According to the designer, there have been just over 1000 sets of plans sold. The success of the plans has prompted the creation of a fast-build kit, which is available from Avipro.In general, the Bearhawk fills a niche in the experimental aircraft market. It is a four-seat, single-engine airplane capable of carrying four people, cargo, and full fuel. Searching the
Experimental Aircraft Association database of over 700 experimental aircraft designs will result in roughly a dozen other planes capable of making that same claim.Perhaps the largest claim to fame for the Bearhawk is its flying performance. A Bearhawk builder has many engines to choose from within the 150 to convert|260|hp|abbr=on range so the actual specifications on the plane vary widely. According to pilot reports posted on the Avipro website, the common thread is that the plane has excellent performance regardless of engine size.
The numbers from Bob Barrows indicate that a convert|260|hp|abbr=on Bearhawk has a climb rate of convert|1700|ft|m per minute and a cruise speed of roughly convert|150|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on, but a Bearhawk built and flown by Pat Fagan has reported cruises at convert|160|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. Speed improvements can be made through
propeller variations, aerodynamic improvements (such as wheel covers and speed fairings), and by reflexing the flaps. Landing speed is roughly convert|40|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. The plane can also be fitted with floats, although only one builder inOregon is confirmed to have done so.Building a Bearhawk from plans is estimated to take over 2000 hours, but there is help with the building process. You get the support of the designer, newsletters, a builders group on Yahoo and a community of builders who believe they have the absolute best aircraft on the planet. Some special tools are required to build the plane because the Bearhawk design makes use of several construction techniques; the wing is riveted aluminum, while the
fuselage and tail are welded 4130 tubular steel with fabric covering. The control surfaces use aluminum ribs and are also fabric covered.The total estimated cost for the materials to build the Bearhawk from plans is $6000 to $8000 not including the engine, prop or avionics. The available quick-build kit reduces the time to build significantly.
Aircraft Specifications
aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= Propref=
crew= 1
capacity= 4
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 23 feet 6 inches
length alt= 7.19m
span main= 33 feet
span alt= 10.06m
height main= 7 feet 10 inches (at top of wing while on ground)
height alt= 2.4m
area main= 180 ft2
area alt= 16.72m2
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1190 lbs (depends on builder)
empty weight alt= 540kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 2500 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1134kg
more general=engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main=
thrust alt=
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)= 150-260 horsepowerpiston engine
type of prop=
number of props=
power main=
power alt=
power original=max speed main= 175 mph (Vne)
max speed alt=
cruise speed main= 120-165 mph
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 800 miles (55 gallons fuel @ 60% power)
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=armament=
avionics=
External links
*http://bearhawkpatrol.tripod.com/
*http://www.bearhawkaircraft.com
*http://mybearhawk.com
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