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Just a reminder to everyone: Bearhawk Aircraft announces the get together on Sunday, April 12, at the Flying G-H Ranch (9TE7) east of Austin TX. Whether you are a kit builder, a scratch builder, or just interested in one of Bob Barrows' designs - you are welcome to join us. Design engineer Bob Barrows will be present along with many members of the Bearhawk community. This is a great opportunity to meet Bob and learn more about his airplanes. We will compete in the Texas STOL RoundUp in Llano Texas on April 11, and then return the afternoon of the 11th to the Flying G-H Ranch. For more information - email to info@bearhawkaircraft.com, or call 512/626-7886.
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Cool, will try to make! -
How did the Texas STOL Round up competition turn out? We're there many Bearhawks there? Also, can you give us a synopsis of the April 12th get together?Brooks Cone
Southeast Michigan
Patrol #303, Kit buildComment
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The weather didn’t cooperate too well for this year’s event. With rain showers and low ceilings many that had planned to attend couldn’t make the trip including Bob Barrows. There still was a pretty good turn out though. They added an additional STOL event year. Besides the STOL takeoff and spot landing event they added a STOL takeoff and obstacle clearance landing event. The obstacles were 2 inflatable pylons (like you see in the red bull races) one on each side of the approach end of the runway. That provided more flying entertainment for spectators and the whole event lasted longer this year. Just like last year each participant was given two runs in each class. They made a few changes for the better this year which kept things flowing a little better. Only two airplanes flying at a time in a close pattern kept things moving quicker and as soon at one participant completed both runs they launched the next flight.
I flew both the Patrol and the LSA in both STOL events. The Patrol was in the Bush Class and the LSA was in the Light Sport Class. The obstacle clearance event was rather challenging because it was very difficult to tell from the pilot seat if you were clearing the obstacle because the pylons were to the side and in your peripheral vision. I think it would have been better to have them in the center. Probably about half of the participants scratched in that event because of the difficulty to estimate the judge’s clearance criteria.
Because of the weather we had to leave before the numbers were tallied to get back to the ranch for the gather the next day. So I don’t know what the official numbers were for the Patrol or LSA. I did scratch several times so I don't expect them to be that great because I became more conservative trying not to scratch. Also competing in each event with the Patrol and the LSA was a Mackey SQ2 which was a shoe in to win the competition. Until they add a speed event the SQ2 will win every time :-)
There are some youtube video of this year’s gathering if you search for it. Here a link to the LSA and Patrol in the obstacle STOL event taken by Mike Nellis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga149wNCXIsComment
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