Bearhawk LSA

{{Short description|American homebuilt airplane}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox aircraft begin

| name = LSA

| image = BearhawkLSA.jpg

| caption =

}}{{Infobox aircraft type

| type = Amateur-built Light-sport aircraft

| national origin = United States

| manufacturer = Bearhawk Aircraft

| designer = Bob Barrows

| first flight =

| introduced = 2012

| retired =

| status = Plans available (2012), Kit available (2013)

| developed from =

}}

The Bearhawk LSA is an American experimental amateur-built aircraft, designed by Bob Barrows. The aircraft is scratch-built from plans or from a kit sold by [https://www.bearhawkaircraft.com/ Bearhawk Aircraft] of Fairview, OK.Bernard, Mary and Suzanne B. Bopp: Bearhawk Aircraft: Bearhawk LSA, Kitplanes, Volume 29, Number 12, December 2012, pp. 23-24. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851{{cite web|url = http://www.bearhawkaircraft.com/LSA/|title=The Bearhawk LSA|accessdate=20 November 2012|last=Bearhawk Aircraft|year=2012}}{{cite web|url=http://bearhawkpatrol.net/index.php/19-sample-data-articles/joomla/35-lsa|title=Bearhawk LSA|accessdate=29 December 2014|last=Bearhawk Aircraft|date=15 December 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726231820/http://bearhawkpatrol.net/index.php/19-sample-data-articles/joomla/35-lsa|archivedate=26 July 2013}}Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 102. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}

The aircraft was introduced to the public at AirVenture 2012.

Design and development

The Bearhawk LSA is a "clean sheet design" inspired by the larger Bearhawk Patrol. The LSA features a strut-braced high-wing, a tandem enclosed cockpit accessed by a single right-side door, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. The cockpit is {{convert|31|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide. In 2015 a quick-build kit was introduced at the U.S Sport Aviation Expo.{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|date=March 2015|page=15|title=Briefly Noted}}

The aircraft fuselage is fabricated from welded 4130 steel tubing covered in heat-shrunk aircraft fabric. The aluminum structure wing, covered in flush riveted aluminum sheet, employs a Harry Riblett-designed GA30-613.5 airfoil and does not have flaps. The wing is supported by a single strut per side. Recommended engines include the {{convert|65|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental A-65, {{convert|75|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental A-75 and the {{convert|100-110|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Continental O-200 four-stroke power plants.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bearhawkaircraft.com/LSA/Photos/LSA_spec_sheet.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215224828/http://bearhawkaircraft.com/LSA/Photos/LSA_spec_sheet.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2013|title=Specifications|accessdate=20 November 2012|last=Barrows|first=Bob|year=2012}}{{cite web|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=289eh|title=Registration Inquiry Results-N289EH|accessdate=20 November 2012|last=Federal Aviation Administration|date=20 November 2012}} However, many other engine options are available including Lycoming, Corvair, ULPower, and Rotax with many exceeding 110 hp.

The aircraft was designed for a maximum gross weight of {{convert|1500|lb|kg|abbr=on}} in the utility category, but is limited to {{convert|1320|lb|kg|abbr=on}} in the US light-sport aircraft category.

Operational history

As of April 2025, 21 completed airplanes of this model were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=BEARHAWK+LSA&PageNo=1|title=Make/Model Inquiry Results|accessdate=26 February 2016|last=Federal Aviation Administration|date=26 February 2016}} Many more are currently being built around the globe as seen on the Bearhawk Forums map.{{Cite web |title=Bearhawk Builder Map |url=https://bearhawkforums.com/map |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Bearhawk Forums |language=en}}

Specifications (LSA)

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Kitplanes and Bob Barrows

|prime units?=imp

|crew=one

|capacity=one passenger

|length m=

|length ft=22

|length in=3

|length note=

|span m=

|span ft=34

|span in=

|span note=

|height m=

|height ft=6

|height in=3

|height note= in three-point

|wing area sqm=

|wing area sqft=170

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=Custom Harry Riblett airfoil (GA30-613.5)

|empty weight kg=

|empty weight lb=720

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=1500

|gross weight note=

|fuel capacity={{convert|30|u.s.gal}}

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Continental A-75

|eng1 type=four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=75

|prop blade number=2

|prop name= aluminium

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=

|max speed kts=

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=125

|cruise speed kts=

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed mph=30

|stall speed kts=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=140

|never exceed speed kts=

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=

|range miles=

|range nmi=

|range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|wing loading lb/sqft=

|wing loading note=

|power/mass=

|thrust/weight=

}}

References

{{reflist}}