Source: 2024 Q3 Beartracks, George Huntington
Back in 2006 I got the bug to build an airplane. Fully understanding it was a big project, but I put it on my bucket list anyway. Long story short, I persevered and 16 years later I was flying my hand crafted Bearhawk.
Building the airplane was a major undertaking that took countless hours in the shop with unrelenting commitment on my part and support and understanding from my wife, family and friends.
The pinnacle of it all being able to fly “my own” airplane to Oshkosh. That is where the aviation community meet to display their planes and see what other enthusiasts have as well.
The trip was planned out and I was flying with two other local pilots in their planes and I had a co-pilot, with me. The trio, a Cessna 170, a Cessna 180 and my Bearhawk set out on July 24, and headed from St Andrews, Manitoba for Duluth, Minnesota where we would clear customs.
In the air, we trued out at about 137 MPH burning 40 ltr/hr (10.5 Us gal/hr) at 55% hp. The AWOS in DLH transmitted that it was VFR but when we contacted the tower, they were not VFR. This weather change put us in a holding pattern and we circled for about ½ hr. Since there was no good news in the short-term weather, we decided to head back north to Fort Francis to re-submit customs paperwork and get fuel. The first leg was 3.8 hours, and we were only about 200 miles from home.
We gained customs and landing approval then flew across the river to International Falls and cleared US customs. A nice short hop of .2 hrs. We then flew from International Falls to Wautoma with airtime of 3.0 hours, fueled up and waited till OSH was open for the evening incoming traffic. With the heavy traffic of people arriving and the onset of the evening rush, there were unexpected delays, and we were put into the arrivals circuit and ended up circling with the invasion for1.1 hours, after which we decided to fly back to Wautoma where we camped overnight.
Thursday morning we packed up camp and headed to Fisk arrival, weather was below limits for arrival, so we were once again in the holding pattern for about 2.1 hours. We were pleased to see the weather lift, and we were allowed to land. We got through the maze of taxiways and parked in the homebuilt camping area where we got registered and I submitted to have my Bearhawk judged.
Later that day a team of judges stopped to inspect my Bearhawk. I was riddled with anticipation as I opened the cowl to let them look inside the engine compartment and stood back as they did a thorough inspection of my plane. After about ½ hour of checking their paperwork and making notes they left with a “thank you” for the opportunity to look at my aircraft. Now I had some free time so I went on tour through the other EAA aircraft and displays.
I was checking out the center square displays when I got a phone call asking if I was willing to do an air-to-air photo shoot of course I said yes. A briefing was set up for Saturday morning at 10 am. This piqued my curiosity so that got me wondering what was up.
When we arrived at camp later that afternoon after the airshow, I see a white flag “AWARD WINNER” on my propeller. That was an amazing surprise. Along with the red flag was the qualification form that had 14 judge’s initials on it with 3 red dots, WOW! I had been been chosen for an award.
I called my buddy Bob Matarelli from Duluth who had helped me out along the way while I was building the airplane, and he had always given me encouragement and had forecast that “you’re going to get a Lindy”.
Saturday morning, I just got started checking out the warbirds and got another call to do an interview and static photo shoot at the airplane in 15 minutes. I scooted back to the Bearhawk and met the photographer who took a substantial number of detailed photos and the completed the interview. They were very interested in my plane but did not reveal any information about awards.
We completed the photo shoot and interview and then proceeded to the briefing for the air-to-air photo shoot. The action would take place on Sunday morning as we were departing OSH.
I attended the Award ceremonies with my travelling companions at the homebuilt building at 6:30 Saturday evening. They went through the Kit Outstanding Workmanship and Plans Outstanding Workmanship plagues then to the Kit Champions bronze Lindy then to Plans Built Champion Bronze Lindy, the second Name announced was George Huntington Bearhawk C-GSOI wow I won a Bronze Lindy Plans Built Champion.
In preparation for the Sunday morning departure and Air-to-air photo shoot, we packed up camp at 6:00 am and taxied to an open area just to the south of the button of Runway 27. There, still more photos were taken prior to the flight. We taxied to RNY 27 took off and went into a hold over the bridge at Winneconne, circled for about 15 minutes. Then the C-210 camera airplane flew up to us and took the lead. We circled to the left for a couple 360’s to get the sunshine in the right area, some straight and level, up and down and a banking roll away to the left then with a wave of our wings we continued on our way to Cloquet for our first stop on the way home with air time of 2.8 hrs.
The weather was not cooperating as a line of thunderstorms prevented us from leaving Cloquet on Sunday, so we spent a night at the terminal in Cloquet. Such a nice airport with fuel and bicycles to use to go into town if need be. With time on our hands, we were able to look at Tim Tollefson Rans homebuilt nearing completion. With the help of my friend Bob, we were able to organize hangarage with Mike Ray a fellow homebuilder to park the Bearhawk overnight.
The next morning, the weather was still below VFR so waited couple hours until it cleared enough to go North with flight time of 2.5 hours and clear Canadian customs at Piney/Pinecreek, an interesting little airport which is half on the US side and half on the Canadian side.
Next leg was 0.8 hours to Oak Hammock Airpark just north of Winnipeg. Total airtime 15.5 hrs.
In my opinion, Bob Barrows has designed an excellent aircraft. He supplied a great set of plans, and was willing to sit and talk with me about the aircraft build. The Bearhawk 4 place meets all my expectations and more.
Mark Goldberg provided a sounding board and shared his knowledge and support throughout our build.
Friends of mine, Cameron Lawrence and Ziggy Smolinski were my build partners, together we have built 4 Bearhawks, so far 2 flying next one to fly this fall.
Special thanks to Jim Gile for his experience and patience helping me fly to Oshkosh as he has done this trip about 10 times already and this is my first-time flying in.
Two of us went to Oshkosh and had a third passenger “Lindy” on the way home.