Photograph:
Bearhawk Aircraft Patrol ZK-FHR (c/n 1249) at Ardmore, NZ in May 2016 (MRC Aviation – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 130 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10 m (33 ft)
- Length: 6.91 m (22 ft 8 in)
- Height: 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 17 m² (180 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 266 km/h (165 mph)
- Cruising speed: 225 km/h (140 mph)
- Stalling speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 210 litres (46 Imp gals)
- Range: 1,448 km (900 miles)
- Empty weight: 431 kg (950 lb)
- Loaded weight: 907 kg (2,000 lb)
History:
The Bearhawk Aircraft Patrol was a development of the R & B Bearhawk light utility aircraft which was initially produced in plan form for the amateur aircraft market and became one of three aircraft in the series, initially being designed by Robert Barrow. Whereas the Bearhawk was a four-seater, the Patrol was a two-seater in tandem aircraft and was referred to as being a modern development of the Super Cub.
The series was produced by R & B Bearhawk of Fincastle, Virginia, USA but in due course it was marketed by AviPro Aircraft, and eventually by Bearhawk Aircraft of Austin, Texas. It has been supplied in kit form or as a plans only design. Later a similar looking but lighter model appeared to meet Light Sport Aircraft Regulations, known as the Bearhawk LSA (see separate article).
The Patrol fitted with a Lycoming O-360 engine cruising at 161 km/h (100 mph) had an endurance of up to nine hours, whereas at 241 km/h (150 mph) it had an endurance of up to five hours on the fuel available. It was basically designed to do what a Piper PA-18 Super Cub could do but with significantly increased speed, climb rate and endurance. The performance was enhanced by the installation of a wing spanning 5.48 m (18 ft) with manually operated flaps up to 40 degrees. It was a single-engine, strut-braced, high-wing aircraft with a conventional tailwheel undercarriage. The fuselage was constructed of welded steel tube and was fabric covered.
Two kits of the Bearhawk Aircraft Patrol were imported to New Zealand in 2012, the first completed becoming ZK-NJB (c/n 1242) registered to the Bearhawk Syndicate of Wadestown, Wellington, followed by ZK-FHR (c/n 1249) registered on 9 November 2015 to its owner at Helensville.