After 3 1/2 years she took to flight for the first time yesterday.

Without getting way into the weeds, I was super happy with how things went. It was just about engine break-in. The takeoff rotation/stick back pressure happened about 5-7 mph late with no flaps, and the landing I carried a lot of extra speed hence the float.

NO squawks. NO leaks. Maybe 1 pound of stick pressure for a right heavy wing. Flew straight. Had to pull the power back to not over speed the engine. Ran it at 2600-2630 for 45 minutes.

TAS  was 137 to 147
Indicated was 130-133
Ground speed was about 4-6 below TAS

https://youtu.be/ne2yn6xEGHM?si=J-6V9lKWD40oTpVp

SPECTACULAR

Such an achievement. If you’ve never been there, you have no idea… Congrats brother.

Great job. Congrats!

Congratulations! Big day

asa wrote:Congratulations! Big day

Thanks to all, it was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it.

Bigrenna wrote:Such an achievement. If you’ve never been there, you have no idea… Congrats brother.

Thanks so much, it was worth it

Well done! Must have been a wonderful day for you.

That's awesome! Quite a commitment but what a great reward!

Congrats!

Congrats! With the new ownership of Bearhawk I hope we keep seeing more of them around. They are on my short list to buy or build.

Way to go Jay!

I'm always blown away by the skills of others, very impressive and the reward of seeing this through must be a rush. Wish I had what it takes to take on a project like this, my engine upgrade was the upper limit of my "skills & abilities.

Very impressive accomplishment, wishing you many years of enjoyment and fond memories.

Thanks all, it is a pretty amazing feeling, and yes it was a commitment. I travel for work about 23 weeks a year, I took less than 15 days off (meaning did not work on the plane when I was home) during the whole build process.

2nd flight was yesterday and got more tuned in on the feel of the plane, still breaking in the engine.

Headed out in a few for another couple hours of making circles in the valley

Jay was committed. I want to be that motivated.
Another in the works…

skyward II wrote:Jay was committed. I want to be that motivated.

IMG_3943.jpeg

Another in the works…

It’s just one day at a time and before you know it you will be flying.

Seriously tho, don’t take a day off, one day leads to three, three days leads to 2 weeks and 2 weeks leads to 3 months and then the thing never gets done.

I took off less than 15 days in the whole build process, of course in the 3 1/2 years to build it I was on work trips about 50% of the time. I don’t work when I am home, and I made a commitment to my wife to ski with her everyday in the winter and we typically ski 5 days a week (Just mornings). So in the winter I only got in 1/2 days

I get it.
Life is busy.
I was putting in long days until…

Retired from steel business.
In the middle of selling shop.
5 years at new location need to be cleaned up and equipment sold.
6 week trip to South Carolina to work on daughter’s house.
You get the picture
No days off, just can’t work on Patrol every day.
It will get done.

Again, congrats and get it out of phase 1 soon.

skyward II wrote:I get it.
Life is busy.
I was putting in long days until…

Retired from steel business.
In the middle of selling shop.
5 years at new location need to be cleaned up and equipment sold.
6 week trip to South Carolina to work on daughter’s house.
You get the picture
No days off, just can’t work on Patrol every day.
It will get done.

Again, congrats and get it out of phase 1 soon.

I think life is more important to be honest, I just felt my age was a factor…. I wanted to get it flying so I could enjoy it. My plane was always about being a tool for my other passions.

Utah-Jay wrote:

skyward II wrote:I get it.
Life is busy.
I was putting in long days until…

Retired from steel business.
In the middle of selling shop.
5 years at new location need to be cleaned up and equipment sold.
6 week trip to South Carolina to work on daughter’s house.
You get the picture
No days off, just can’t work on Patrol every day.
It will get done.

Again, congrats and get it out of phase 1 soon.

I think life is more important to be honest, I just felt my age was a factor…. I wanted to get it flying so I could enjoy it. My plane was always about being a tool for my other passions.

I couldn’t agree more. Similar condition. Then add on more.

What really blows me away is that you had energy to document and share all this at the end of those days on the Bearhawk site. It has been appreciated.

Amazing accomplishment! Congratulaions!