Bearhawk 4-Place C-FZVW, Way Up North

Source: 2025 Q1 Beartracks
Johnny Adams sends an update about his Bearhawk C-FZVW, formerly N1914M. His home base is CYVP, Kuujjuaq, Quebec Canada. To get there from the USA, start in central Maine, head north, and travel another 750 miles or so past the border!
He bought the plane in flying condition in 2013 and imported it from the USA. In 2024 he refreshed it with a 10-year overhaul, adding landing lights, ADS-B, top overhaul, a ground adjustable Sensenich prop, polished wings, and new seat upholstery. He had the panel completely redone with new avionics, and added a fresh paint job. The covering is Poly Fiber and the total time is now 300 hours.
The engine is a parallel-valve Lycoming O-360 A4M. It has a Vetterman exhaust with double heat shroud, and he has recently removed the vacuum pump. In the winter he installs 2500 Datum electric skis. Empty weight on Goodyear 26” wheels is 1294 pounds, and with wheel skis, 1389 pounds.
The first builder was Michael Moening, who used a factory kit.

Ken Frahm’s Bearhawk 4-Place – N907KM

Source: 2023 Q3 Beartracks, Ken Frahm
I’ve never owned an airplane before. I’ve wanted to build one since I found out it was possible in college. What I wanted to build changed shape over the years as I figured out what kind of life I wanted to live. Then after a moose hunting trip in 2016 I realized I needed something rugged, that could carry a load. Then, my wife convinced me that we were going to have children and they would be coming with us… so a rugged plane with four seats plus a load and enough range to get around our massive state without many fuel stops? Well, there is only one option at that point.
Bearhawk on Skis
When I realized that the Bearhawk existed I immediately called Mark Goldberg to ask about it, and in 2018 I saw him in Oshkosh, went for a test ride with my wife in Texas shortly thereafter, and ordered a kit when we were blown away by the performance.
Four years later the kids are here and the Bearhawk is done. All of the attributes that sold me on a Bearhawk have already proven their worth. I haven’t gotten everything as dialed in as I would like (hence the unpainted cowling) but it is already a workhorse. Our last trip was just about the perfect example of the Bearhawk’s mission as a family hauler. My family of four flew to a remote cabin 2.5 hours from home, off the road system. We spent the night and came back the next day, spurred on by unforecast worsening weather – typical Alaska. As we picked our way through the deteriorating scud, I was picking out gravel bars and flat spots we could put down on if necessary. Due to recent experience I knew we could land and takeoff on numerous strips bars and flat spots that most planes with our load would not have done safely. It was quite a stress reducer.

Ken adds: This Fall an awesome Moose hunt a la Bearhawk ensued. Pic above is my Buddy Nick who shot the moose. I flew home over the Alaska Range with myself, my survival kit, and the whole harvestable portion of a moose (about 500 lbs including the 48” rack!) I’m becoming more fond of this plane every trip.
Editor’s note: We’re pretty sure that Ken’s is the first Bearhawk to use skis on its first flight.

Home Made Skis

Source: 2015 Q1 Beartracks
Bearhawk LSA on SkisThis winter brought enough snow in Fincastle for Bob to try out his old set of skis on his LSA proto-type. He originally built the skis for his first design, which he called the “Grasshopper.” Back in the early 1970s, he lived in Utica, New York and made regular use of the skis. The Grasshopper was an open-cockpit design, so that should tell you how devoted he was to flying! He made these skis from a piece of 5/8 oak, using crosswise saw kerfs and steam to bend up the front and rear tips. Once the parts dried, he filled the kerfs with epoxy and laminated a 1/8” layer of birch plywood. Then he designed a tube structure to attach the skis to the main wheel axles. He flew with the standard non-ski tailwheel. Bob’s daughter Maria has offered to draft a set of plans for the skis if any Bearhawk builders are interested in making a set.
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