Bearhawk 5

The Bearhawk 5 is a five-to-six seat American amateur-built aircraft, designed by Bob Barrows and under development by Bearhawk Aircraft. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2][3]

Bearhawk 5
Role Amateur-built aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Bearhawk Aircraft
Designer Bob Barrows
First flight 3 May 2020
Introduction 2020
Status Under development (2020)
Produced 2020-present
Number built One
Developed from Barrows Bearhawk

Development

The design was initiated at the request of a friend of Bob Barrows, who was looking for a Barrows Bearhawk, but with greater capacity. Barrows completed the drawings and the builder started construction of the design, until health issues caused him to abandon the project. A year later, Mark Goldberg, president of Avipro/Bearhawk Aircraft, described the incomplete project to Collin Campbell of Bolivar, Missouri, who was looking for a new building project, after having built several Bearhawk designs in the past. Campbell agreed to complete the prototype and it first flew on 3 May 2020. By 21 May 2020 the prototype had completed five hours of test flying.[1][2][3]

Design

Based on the Barrows Bearhawk, the new design is 2 in (5 cm) wider, with a cabin 14 in (36 cm) longer and an overall length 24 in (61 cm) longer. The stretched cabin permits the installation of a fifth and sixth seat or additional baggage.[1][2][3]

The aircraft features a strut-braced high-wing, a five or six seat enclosed cabin accesed by doors that is wide, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1][2][3]

The aircraft fuselage is made from welded steel tubing covered in doped aircraft fabric, with the wings of aluminum construction. The wings are identical to the original Bearhawk design. Its 33 ft (10.1 m) span wing employs a Riblett airfoil, has an area of 186 sq ft (17.3 m2) and mounts flaps. The aircraft's recommended engine power range is 250 to 315 hp (186 to 235 kW) and standard engines used include the 250 hp (186 kW) Lycoming O-540, although the recommended engine is the 315 hp (235 kW) Lycoming IO-580 four-stroke powerplant.[1][2][3]

The test pilot, Rollie van Dorn, noted, "the Bearhawk Model 5 offered no surprises on takeoff or climb out. With all that power, things happen quickly."[3]

Operational history

By May 2020 one example, the prototype, had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[4]

Specifications

Data from AVweb, Plane & Pilot and Aero News Network[1][2][3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: five passengers
  • Length: 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft (11 m)
  • Wing area: 186 sq ft (17.3 m2)
  • Airfoil: Riblett
  • Empty weight: 1,512 lb (686 kg) (projected)
  • Gross weight: 3,000 lb (1,361 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-580 four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 315 hp (235 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell Propeller carbon-fiber Trailblazer constant speed propeller

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn) (projected)
  • Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
  • Wing loading: 16.1 lb/sq ft (79 kg/m2)

References
  1. Cook, Marc (21 May 2020). "Bearhawk Introduces Six-Seat Homebuilt". AVweb. Archived from the original on 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. King, Jeremy (22 May 2020). "Bearhawk 5 Takes Flight". Plane & Pilot. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. "Big Upgrade -- Bearhawk Introduces 6-Place Bearhawk 5". Aero News Network. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. Federal Aviation Administration (22 May 2020). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 22 May 2020.
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