Source: 2013 Q1 Beartracks, Fletcher Burns
I’ve never been one of the fast, high powered types. I like a simple airplane without all the bells and whistles. 95% of my flying ends up at the same airport I took off from. When I was a kid I read everything I could find about aviation pioneers, the Wright Brothers, Lindberg, etc. Back then it was all out of the library, no internet. In High School I started learning about homebuilts and the EAA. After High School I got a job and took flying lessons. At that time I bought plans to the KR-2 and the Sonerai 2. I realized I didn’t have the knowledge to undertake either of them because I read numbers like 2024-T3 and 4130N, and had no idea what they meant.
So I got my Private Pilot certificate and soon after joined the Air Force. I picked aircraft sheet metal as a career. I served in that field for almost 22 years, got my A&P certificate and a 2 year degree in aircraft metals technology while on active duty. I enjoyed learning how airplanes were built and have always been happy with my career choice. My first assignment was to Germany working on F-4 Phantoms. So I basically had 3 years to study the plans I had and settled on building the Sonerai. I built it in just over a year when I got back to the states and flew it for 15 years. I also built a Teenie Two, rebuilt a Pietenpol, a Cessna 150, and built several ultralights. So as I said, I’ve always preferred the low-powered end of aviation.
In the past few years I have entertained the idea of building a Zenith 701, and actually bought a bunch of aluminum for it, but never started it. I began work on a Wagabond, but lost interest in it. I also considered the Buttercup, but it seemed a little too complicated to fly both fast and slow. I was already familiar with Ribblet airfoils, so I built a second set of wing for my Sonerai that used a 15% thick Ribblet airfoil and I loved the difference. I couple of months ago I read about the Bearhawk LSA and I knew this was it. I liked the aluminum wings (I already had the aluminum), Ribblet airfoil, steel tube fuselage and decent performance on low horse power. I have a 90 hp Franklin to power it with. My Pietenpol had a 90 hp Franklin and it was the smoothest engine I’ve ever flown behind (or in front of). I also have all sorts of aircraft parts I’ve picked up over the years, so I should be able to do this fairly inexpensively. I’m 55 now, so I think I’ll just stick to Sport Pilot flying, and the LSA is perfect for this. The Wagabond could have done it, but the Bearhawk has a much more modern appeal to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the old classics, I just think the LSA looks like an airplane should. Everyone has their own taste, and this one fits mine. It reminds me of a Citabria in a way. My taildragger checkout was in a Citabria, and I remember thinking it flew like a truck, I’m hoping the stick forces are lighter in the Bearhawk LSA.
I ordered the plans about of month after I read about it in Kitplanes, joined the Yahoo user group and began building a few weeks ago. I like the plans, they are way better than what I managed to build a Sonerai, or Teenie Two from. The LSA plans are working out well. I have the right main spar completed and I’m working on the left. I have all the parts formed for the rear spars and once they are done I will start making ribs. I’ve made one rib to get my spar heights where I want them. And that’s another thing I like about Bob’s plans. There’s enough info there to build from without overwhelming you with critical dimensions and tolerances. It’s not as if I’m mass producing this airplane so that my parts will bolt on perfectly with someone else’s. It’s a one of a kind creation of my own made the way Bob drew it. I started by just making each part by the plans, then putting them together, everything has fit well. I have no idea how long it will take me to finish this project but it doesn’t matter, I’m enjoying it.