hotrod180 wrote:Maybe talk Zane into selling his BH project.

Well, they've never been so valuable or in high demand.

For my money, the A model wing is at least as good as the B wing, possibly better for extreme STOL. Yes the B kit has a lot of other advances to speed up a build and increase optionality, but the finished articles are identical twins in every operational sense.

I think Z is sitting on more of an investment than we ever imagined possible, when he started. He would more than get his money back, if he sold today.

Well, there's time, and then there's money. The OP keeps saying he can't afford this and that. Here's a news flash: EAB is NOT cheap, and as Denny noted, in many if not most cases, you could purchase a flyable certified aircraft for less money than the EAB is going to cost.

Even cobbling various airplane parts together still requires purchasing a lot of spendy bits and pieces. So, just understand that an EAB as folks have noted, requires huge amounts of time, and it will also not be cheap, UNLESS, you are truly a talented craftsman, who can literally create most of the parts of an airplane. They're out there, but not many.

Good luck, it can be done.

MTV

After much pondering over the years and as others much wiser than I have already suggested building just isn't cheeper or easier. If you have very targeted performance requirements then building an expermental may be your only path to inner happiness but its definitely not the easy, short or an inexpensive route. For my requirements polishing up a former gem was the most cost effective, efficient and timely route to aviation nirvanna. I found a suitable "in service" airframe. identified the enhancements desired and outlined a 5 year timeline for the work. I accomplished the upgrades seasonally too allow for some play time. However the final push, engine upgrade necessitated a one year hiatus while the task was undertaken.

I now have a airplane that will scratch 95% of my fun flying, the other 5% is done in J class with an adult refreshment "in hand".

Whee -

RE: "If I wasn’t so busy with other things I’d start on a Bearhawk 5 build but it would likely end up with Cessna 185 or 206 wings."

As I'm about to start a BH5 QB kit, I am interested to know why you would choose 185 or 206 wings???

.....

Air Bear wrote:Whee -

RE: "If I wasn’t so busy with other things I’d start on a Bearhawk 5 build but it would likely end up with Cessna 185 or 206 wings."

As I'm about to start a BH5 QB kit, I am interested to know why you would choose 185 or 206 wings???

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the BH5 as is. You will have an awesome airplane. The reasons I might use Cessna wings are minor; semi-Fowler flaps (this is the most significant one), availability for both initial purchase and replacement/repair, initial cost (in the current market this may not be valid anymore).

Since you have a QB kit you should just build it and be happy. It’s going to be an awesome airplane.

whee wrote:

Air Bear wrote:Whee -

RE: "If I wasn’t so busy with other things I’d start on a Bearhawk 5 build but it would likely end up with Cessna 185 or 206 wings."

As I'm about to start a BH5 QB kit, I am interested to know why you would choose 185 or 206 wings???

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the BH5 as is. You will have an awesome airplane. The reasons I might use Cessna wings are minor; semi-Fowler flaps (this is the most significant one), availability for both initial purchase and replacement/repair, initial cost (in the current market this may not be valid anymore).

Since you have a QB kit you should just build it and be happy. It’s going to be an awesome airplane.

Another option if you are looking at 185 wings predominantly for the semi Fowler flaps, is to keep your bearhawk wing and install PSTOL flaps in them https://www.airframesalaska.com/PerformanceSTOL_a/268.htm

corefile wrote:

whee wrote:

Air Bear wrote:Whee -

RE: "If I wasn’t so busy with other things I’d start on a Bearhawk 5 build but it would likely end up with Cessna 185 or 206 wings."

As I'm about to start a BH5 QB kit, I am interested to know why you would choose 185 or 206 wings???

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the BH5 as is. You will have an awesome airplane. The reasons I might use Cessna wings are minor; semi-Fowler flaps (this is the most significant one), availability for both initial purchase and replacement/repair, initial cost (in the current market this may not be valid anymore).

Since you have a QB kit you should just build it and be happy. It’s going to be an awesome airplane.

Another option if you are looking at 185 wings predominantly for the semi Fowler flaps, is to keep your bearhawk wing and install PSTOL flaps in them https://www.airframesalaska.com/PerformanceSTOL_a/268.htm

Ah man, why did you have to go and put up that link. Now I've got to talk myself out of a set and just when I thought I was getting close to the end of spending money on my bird !!!!

Although this has been posted before in another thread(s), repeating it is for the benefit of the original poster.

As a first time aircraft buyer, I wanted EAB so I didn't have to live under the tyranny of excess regulation. The Bearhawk was my mission satisfying choice until I figured out what a flying version would cost. At the time, I found a Maule that was 1/3 the cost of a flying Bearhawk and bought it. Since then I have found the regulation world to be more tolerable than I expected and the Maule has turned out to be a great plane for my kind of flying.

The aircraft market has changed significantly since I bought the Maule but I believe the same dynamics still apply. All I'm saying is don't disregard something like a Maule, Stinson, Tripe, etc. Even if it needs some work, a lot of that work can be performed faster and cheaper than building an entire plane and you'll have something to fly.

If you just truly enjoy the process of building, that's great too and most of us can endorse that for you as well. You just have to decide if you would rather build or fly sooner.

DeltaRomeo wrote:.... I found a Maule that was 1/3 the cost of a flying Bearhawk and bought it. Since then I have found the regulation world to be more tolerable than I expected and the Maule has turned out to be a great plane for my kind of flying.
The aircraft market has changed significantly since I bought the Maule but I believe the same dynamics still apply. All I'm saying is don't disregard something like a Maule, Stinson, Tripe, etc. Even if it needs some work, a lot of that work can be performed faster and cheaper than building an entire plane and you'll have something to fly.....

What he said.
I've seen a lot of people disregard advice like this, including some on this site,
and end up regretting it later after they get bogged down in a years-long build project.