• If You Are Having Trouble Logging In with Your Old Username and Password, Please use this Forgot Your Password link to get re-established.
  • There is no better time to show your support for SuperCub.Org than during our annual calendar campaign! All the details are HERE

Another Bearhawk Patrol

Bearhawk Builder

Bearhawk Builder

FRIEND
In the woods
I've been working on this one for a little over a year and making good progress lately. This is a standard Bearhawk Patrol kit with a few custom add ons. O360 built by Bob Barrows, Hartzell Trailblazer prop. Gun box under the rear seat. Added rear baggage area. Amsafe SOARS airbag seat belts. Solar panel battery charger. Retractable pull handles. Vetterman exhaust. Sport Aircraft Seats. It will eventually be on 31's and Datum skis for winter. It won't be the lightest one out there but should be a real nice plane. Painting wings now and then final assembly.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2329.jpg
    IMG_2329.jpg
    453.9 KB · Views: 201
  • IMG_2331.jpg
    IMG_2331.jpg
    387.8 KB · Views: 169
  • IMG_2333.jpg
    IMG_2333.jpg
    402.2 KB · Views: 901
  • IMG_2334.jpg
    IMG_2334.jpg
    521.8 KB · Views: 184
  • IMG_2336.jpg
    IMG_2336.jpg
    603.9 KB · Views: 238
  • IMG_2330.jpg
    IMG_2330.jpg
    571.2 KB · Views: 224
You have given enough clues that this Patrol will used off airport. Why is there no hinge on the baggage door? It must be removed completely when opened. Then where do you put it so that it will not be damaged? Wind blowing it away. Stepping on it by mistake etc. When operating away from civilization, the fewer parts you have which are not attached to the plane, the better off you are. A hinge along the bottom of this door would solve any questions.

img_2333-jpg.106523
 
That’s funny but true Tom. But, there’s a guy collecting some data from Bearhawk owners currently. It will be interesting to see where it stacks up as there is a very early Bearhawk with 3800 hrs they say. Those would all be the original 4 place, but good to see others do fly some as well. There may be more guys with 1000 hrs BH seat time than we think. 🤔
 
Upper is riveted to the upper stringers, a few tabs welded in for the rear bulkhead and baggage door.
The lower is not standard either, extended for lighter items, ELT mount etc.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1861.jpg
    IMG_1861.jpg
    706.8 KB · Views: 89
Thats an industry best practice...it adds huge utility to the Patrol. Great Job! I now can imagine an additional shelf in the main baggage area just behind the rear seat changing it into a upper and a lower section.
 
On the baggage door issue: on my RANS LSA, I added a side of fuselage door, that is hinged, but the hinge pin can be pulled in a second and it can be removed. As it's hinge is on the forward side, it ends to self close when in the three point attitude, no bggie most of the time, not enough to bother with a door holder opener anyway. But if I'm putting something back there that needs to be secured or otherwise messed with a bit, I just pull the pin, and it's small enough to fit on the front seat, where I'm unlikely to forget it. That's a great lloking Bearhawk, especially that baggage area!
 
Wings are on, controls are rigged and tensioned. I'm using Carbon Concepts wingtips, more of a Horener style that adds about 12" of lifting surface to each wing. The lights are FlyLed Taildragger version with wigwag module. Three of the LED's are aimed ahead and one is tilted down for ground taxi position. I am impressed with them so far. This Patrol has 11 gallon aux tanks with facet pumps to transfer the fuel to the main tanks. Prop is the Hartzell Trailblazer.
Fuel flow test, first engine runs and weight and balance coming soon.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2372.jpg
    IMG_2372.jpg
    726.3 KB · Views: 108
  • IMG_2373.jpg
    IMG_2373.jpg
    525.1 KB · Views: 101
  • IMG_2377.jpg
    IMG_2377.jpg
    670.5 KB · Views: 90
  • IMG_2375.jpg
    IMG_2375.jpg
    381 KB · Views: 105
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on flying that weight and those tips Dave. Mine should be similar when done, although perhaps not quite as light.
 
The next time you need a Facet 40007 pump let me know. Fittings are 1/4 npt. These are NOS from an old belly tank project of mine. Make me an offer I can't refuse. Delivery possible if you have a nearby pond.

20240529_061923.jpg

20240529_061906.jpg
 
Farmboy said:
That’s funny but true Tom. But, there’s a guy collecting some data from Bearhawk owners currently. It will be interesting to see where it stacks up as there is a very early Bearhawk with 3800 hrs they say. Those would all be the original 4 place, but good to see others do fly some as well. There may be more guys with 1000 hrs BH seat time than we think. 🤔
Click to expand...
Is this data available for anyone to see? I've been talking to a guy interested in building a Patrol and he is looking for real world cruise number /fuel burn/performance numbers. I mentioned to him that there was a Bearhawk forum he could browse but don't think he was able to find the data he was looking for.
 
WWhunter said:
Is this data available for anyone to see? I've been talking to a guy interested in building a Patrol and he is looking for real world cruise number /fuel burn/performance numbers. I mentioned to him that there was a Bearhawk forum he could browse but don't think he was able to find the data he was looking for.
Click to expand...
I was referring to owners with lots of time.

I can answer patrol performance numbers, just ask away.

The one I flew weighed 1245 empty, sat on 31” rubber, and I largely flew alone with 20-50 gallons on board. 180hp carb with a Trailblazer.
For easy numbers I went everywhere at 125 mph IAS and 7.5-8 gph. This was basically a 23/2300 setting in round numbers. Depending on the day it was from 2280 to 2350 depending on how I liked the sound, and how anxious I wanted to get there.

This suited my wallet and my needs extremely well. It would be very easy to cruise at 135 on 31’s, if you wanted to burn a little more fuel.

To prove a point one winter day I pushed all the levers forward and it showed 153 mph level cruise, still with 31” ABW. But, as I recall that took 15 gph or so.

When I fly around with Guilfoyle or other cubs in the 85-90 mph range you burn 5.4-6 gph.

With a couple of EX’s at 105 mph you would burn mid 6’s per hr.

The Ribblitt (sp?) airfoil on the Patrol seems to have a speed step around 85 so flying with J3’s at 75 is a little tougher as you’re either off the cruise step or you add a flaps and drag to the equation. I did it plenty, but the aircraft flys nicer a touch faster.

I have random panel photos over roughly 2 years , but this data is from about 510 hrs in one Patrol.

Pb
 
Last edited:
"To prove a point one winter day I pushed all the levers forward and it showed 153 mph level cruise, still with 31” ABW. But, as I recall that took 12 gph or so."


Pretty sure this was the day our local CC dealer posted a picture of his fast cruise in a Carbon Cub.
A few minutes later Peter posted a picture of him at fast cruise in the patrol.
No further response from said CC dealer

Glenn
 
Farmboy said:
To prove a point one winter day I pushed all the levers forward and it showed 153 mph level cruise, still with 31” ABW. But, as I recall that took 12 gph or so.
Click to expand...
That's only 31 mph faster than my Cub on floats also with the levers full forward. Now if it will also comfortably get in and out of a 1000 long pond with trees on the ends? When is John's going to be flying?
 
skywagon8a said:
That's only 31 mph faster than my Cub on floats also with the levers full forward. Now if it will also comfortably get in and out of a 1000 long pond with trees on the ends? When is John's going to be flying?
Click to expand...
That’s two very good questions.
Neither of which I am qualified to answer. 😏
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Bearhawk Builder
Bearhawk Patrol
2
Replies
35
Views
6K
wireweinie
wireweinie
I
AK Troopers cubs
2
Replies
34
Views
9K
wirsig
wirsig
Back
Top