Bob Barrows
{{Short description|American aircraft designer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
Robert "Bob" Barrows is an American aircraft designer and engine builder of light aircraft. Best known as the designer of several Bearhawk planes, he is also a mechanical engineer, and A&P licensed aviation mechanic.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://bearhawkpatrol.tripod.com/bearhawk/id6.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704013700/http://bearhawkpatrol.tripod.com/bearhawk/id6.html |archivedate=4 July 2009 |access-date=1 July 2023 |work=R&B Aircraft |publication-place=Virginia, United States}}{{Cite news |date=August 2020 |title=Bigger & Bolder |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=144415717&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=Flying |page=14 |via=EBSCOHost}}
Career
File:Bearhawk Model 5 - Perspective.jpg
Barrows is the designer of the Bearhawk Patrol, Companion, 4-Place, and Model 5 light aircraft,{{cite web |last=Boatman |first=Julie |date=26 May 2020 |title=Bearhawk Builds First New Model 5 |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/bearhawk-builds-first-model-5/ |access-date=10 July 2023 |work=Flying}} as well as the Bearhawk LSA light-sport aircraft.{{cite web |last=Tulis |first=David |date=1 November 2021 |title=Capable Homebuilt Performer |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2021/november/pilot/capable-homebuilt-performer |access-date=10 July 2023 |publisher=AOPA}}
Prior to designing the first aircraft in the Bearhawk series, the 4-Place, Barrows designed and built a STOL high wing plane called the Grasshopper and an aerobatic biplane.{{cite web |last= |date= |title=Bob Barrows on Airplane Design |url=https://bearhawkaircraft.com/bob-barrows-on-airplane-design/ |access-date=10 July 2023 |work=Bearhawk Aircraft |publication-place=Texas, United States}} After designing his four-seat Bearhawk in the early 1990s, Barrows started using airfoils designed by Harry Riblett in his Bearhawk designs.{{cite web |last=Spangler |first=Scott |date=19 July 2013 |title=The Airfoil Adventures of Harry Riblett: Finishing the work NACA started |url=https://www.kitplanes.com/the-airfoil-adventures-of-harry-riblett/ |access-date=1 December 2023 |work=Kitplanes |publication-place=Connecticut, United States}}
In April 2019, Barrows was injured in his Bearhawk LSA when he clipped power lines on approach to land. The LSA's steel tube design resisted crumpling beyond the firewall.{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Marc |date=23 April 2019 |title=Bearhawk Designer Bob Barrows Injured in Landing Crash |url=https://www.kitplanes.com/bearhawk-designer-bob-barrows-injured-in-landing-crash/ |access-date=10 July 2023 |work=Kitplanes |publication-place=Connecticut, United States}}
References
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Category:People from Fincastle, Virginia
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American aircraft designers
Category:American mechanical engineers
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