Photograph:
R & B Aircraft Bearhawk VH-MCZ (c/n 362) at Caboolture, QLD in 2002 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Four-seat light touring aircraft
Power Plant:
One 127 kw (170 hp) Lycoming O-360 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.05 m (33 ft)
- Length: 7.16 m (23 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.13 m (7 ft)
- Wing area: 16.72 m² (180 sq ft)
- Max speed: 238 km/h (148 mph)
- Cruising speed: 209 km/h (130 mph)
- Stalling speed (clean): 76 km/h (47 mph)
- Landing speed: 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 427 m/min (1,400 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,486 m (18,000 ft)
- Range: 1,287 km (800 miles)
- Empty weight: 522 kg (1,150 lb)
- Useful load: 463 kg (1,020 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,134 kg (2,500 lb)
History:
The Bearhawk is a light touring aircraft designed to be built by the amateur constructor. It is of steel tube construction with fabric covering, with engines ranging from 112 kw (150 hp) to 194 kw (260 hp) able to be installed, with a tailwheel undercarriage. The wings are of all metal construction, and fuel capacity is 208 litres (45.8 Imp gals). The aircraft was designed for the amateur builder and was available as a plans only design, the latter being available from the designers, R & B Aircraft of Fincastle, Virginia. The aircraft has been noted for its good short field performance. The prototype was fitted with a Lycoming O-360 engine converted to operate on auto-fuel. Some parts of other designs may be used from other aircraft types; the engine cowling, wheels and brakes from a Pitts; the windshield from a Cessna etc.
More than 400 sets of plans have been sold. Development led to the Bearhawk Patrol (see separate article) which is similar to the larger Bearhawk, having an all-metal wing but, in lieu of the Riblett aerofoil fitted to the Patrol, having a modified NACA 4412 profile. Later the Bearhawk LSA appeared on the market. Designed to meet American light sport aircraft regulations, it was similar in appearance to the Patrol but was fitted with a 78 kw (105 hp) Continental C-85 engine. Parts for the aircraft became available from the Company based in Austin Texas. All components were manufactured by Avipro in Atlixco, Puebla, south-east of Mexico City.
First of the type in this region (VH-MCZ –c/n 362) was registered to its owner/builder in Queensland on 6 September 2001, this aircraft being fitted with a 172 kw (230 hp) Continental engine, but it is believed to have been later fitted with a Textron Lycoming YIO-390 engine. It was followed by VH-IMH (c/n 377) in October 2003 at Crookwell, NSW, this machine being powered by a 186 kw (250 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 engine. A Bearhawk Patrol became VH-TUC³ (c/n 326) on 11 May 2018.
Examples have been completed in New Zealand, the first, a Bearhawk Patrol, becoming ZK-NJB (c/n 125-237-238-1242) in September 2013 registered to Bearhawk Syndicate 12A, this aircraft being imported as a kit in 2012 and powered by a Lycoming IO-540 engine. It was one of two kits which arrived in New Zealand at that time, the second, a Bearhawk, becoming ZK-FHR (c/n 127-249-1250-1249), being completed in November 2015.