Bearhawk Companion Flies

[Farmboy]

The Bearhawk series of airplanes appear to cover all the bases of a majority of "off roading" aviators.
For comparison purposes my widebody -18 clone is 28". I am not a widebody person, the Patrol's 32" is attractive.

Now, let's see what we can do about reducing the ground run and increasing the climb performance. Hmm? I have some ideas.

Climb performance is pretty good at about 1500/min empty and 700/min at gross. (https://youtu.be/odoGYOmg1Pc?t=256) Ground runs coming and going blend down to speed - if you can slow the stall speed down more then the ground run will be there.

Short of watching that video he posted the results he got. Weights / Wind / Takeoff & landing distances / Climb out / stall and fuel burn full rich.

 

[cubdriver2]

Companion wing fit on LSA?

Glenn

 

[Bearhawk Builder]

What accounts for the difference in gross weight between this (2200#), and the patrol (2000#)?

Fuselage structural differences ?

Yes, tubing layout and wall thickness differences. The Companion uses essentially a modified 4 place fuselage which is 2500 gross, some tubing changes were made for the Companion. The gear though remained the same as the 4 place so it's pretty rugged.

 

[Bearhawk Builder]

Companion wing fit on LSA?

Glenn

I'm not sure about this, I don't think so. But a Patrol can be built at 900 lbs if your careful.

 

[courierguy]

What is to prevent you from installing flaps on your Bearhawk LSA? You are a clever mechanically inclined guy.......just do it. There is ample guidance on building a flap system just here on SC.org, if nowhere else.

I'm an experienced and apparently adequate kitplane builder, (5 times) meaning I am OK with putting parts together, but doing a good flap mod, with the required strengthening of the rear spar, is out of my comfort level. Besides, I'm too busy flying my completed and paid for S-7S, 2.9 Hrs just today, 1.9 yesterday, more tomorrow). I am using the excuse of it not having flaps, standard, as it is the first kitplane in a while, LSA type, that has caught my eye, and it's lack of flap is a good reason to hold off.. I'd also have to put cub style gear on it, but I know a good gear guy, I'd be on my own on the flap mod. I've also never built a plane, while having a flying plane, I've always sold the flying one to pay for the next one, and used that to supercharge my building effort. Meaning, quick. Now, for the first time in my life, I can afford the next kit plane upfront, but I want to go flying what I have too much.

 

[Colorado-Cub]

I'm an experienced and apparently adequate kitplane builder, (5 times) meaning I am OK with putting parts together, but doing a good flap mod, with the required strengthening of the rear spar, is out of my comfort level. Besides, I'm too busy flying my completed and paid for S-7S, 2.9 Hrs just today, 1.9 yesterday, more tomorrow). I am using the excuse of it not having flaps, standard, as it is the first kitplane in a while, LSA type, that has caught my eye, and it's lack of flap is a good reason to hold off.. I'd also have to put cub style gear on it, but I know a good gear guy, I'd be on my own on the flap mod. I've also never built a plane, while having a flying plane, I've always sold the flying one to pay for the next one, and used that to supercharge my building effort. Meaning, quick. Now, for the first time in my life, I can afford the next kit plane upfront, but I want to go flying what I have too much.

I live without flaps now and pay that penalty at touchdown as compared to most Cubs. Gurney flaps do help about 50% of that gap, but your S7 is both way faster and relatively slower than my 11. The Bearhawk LSA would be another order of magnitude faster and slower than my pig but knowing your terrain and your S7, I am sorta curious what aspect of the Bearhawk caught your eye? Load? Longer wing? Just something new?

Just knowing the stuff we both like to fly, I think you would really miss your flaps...

Edit: You need to convince Randy to design us a long-wing slatted S7. (better soaring, ailerons further out, more flap area, etc)

 

[courierguy]

The wing, lot more squares, and faster. I'd settle for an extended span 21 wing for my 7, something that Randy has kicked around but it's way on the back burner. New also.

 

[bcone1381]

IF the Bearhawk LSA had flaps I'd have one by now.

It's common to see folks ask for Flaps on the LSA. But no one whom I've ever known with time in one asks for flaps....ever....quite the opposite actually. It's Riblett airfoil is thicker and proven to be an excellent choice for its mission.

For the record, I'm a Patrol builder, and been following the lineup closely for about 7 years. For those of you wondering, Bob Barrows says to build the LSA if you lean towards a J-3, and the Patrol if you desire a PA-18.

 

[courierguy]

I don't know of any BH LSA builders landing mountain sides/tops, short gravel bars, and other foolish places like I do all the time in the flap equipped RANS. I'm not saying that's because they don't have flaps, or it couldn't be done, just that the grass airstrip/pavement crowd I'm sure find just slipping more than adequate. I slip almost every landing, plus use various flap settings. I also don't know of any LSA's with 29" tires, or at least any that have really worked them off airport. I greatly respect Bob's expertise in design, I just wish he wasn't such a hard ass about not at least offering the option of flaps. By hard ass, I mean purist, I do like his passion for lightness and simplicity. It may be a off airport gem, with the wing loading it has, plus it's clean wing. I consider myself more of a tweaked and hot rodded J-3 type, with 29's!

 

[Colorado-Cub]

I consider myself more of a tweaked and hot rodded J-3 type, with 29's!

You summed it up perfectly Tom. This is exactly what I fly now and the next wings going on my bird will absolutely have flaps. (or I will only build another airplane that does)

Nothing against Bearhawks and don't mean to derail this specific thread. The Patrol is the bees knees, and the Patrol wings on the LSA is just about the sweet spot for a few of us.

 

[RVBottomly]

Correction, the fuse block is a Bussman. Couple more shots of the interior.View attachment 55975View attachment 55976

A question about the stick controls. How do they control the elevators? From the picture it looks like the assembly slides forward and backwards instead of pivoting. Am I seeing it wrong?

Edit to add:

Nevermind....I looked at the Bearhawk 4-place control stick assembly and see it has a pronounced jog going back to a torque tube.