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So, fresh off a trip to Alaska this summer I stumbled upon an idle Bearhawk project in California that was priced to good to resist. As luck would have it, my wife was still high from our Beaver float plane trip, which made her easy to convince. So my dad and I made the 4000+ mile trip from Wisconsin to southern California to pick up what I thought was a mostly complete right wing, and the finished spars and ribs for the left wing. Time was really tight, because I only had four days to make it there and back. By the time we arrived in California on day two, it was already getting late, so I didn't have as much time to inspect as I would have liked to. I looked over the mostly complete right wing and found construction to be of high quality, and just hoped the rest would follow suit. I was also grinning once I realized that a pair of new lift struts came with the deal. Since getting this project home I have been gradually unpacking boxes and finding little gems that I had no idea were included. First it was the strut fittings, then pulleys, control cables, countless steel fittings and landing lights, then the components for the oil shocks, and the axles. Just yesterday I unpacked a brand new wheel, tire and other components for the Bearhawk tail wheel. It was enough for me to suggest to my kids that I have elves in the shop. Unfortunately I didn't purchase the project from the builder, so I wasn't able to thank him for the great head start. His name was Doug Knight , and I know he had been active in the old Bearhawk forums. If anyone knows him, please pass on that his project is alive and well, and will fly someday. Doug, if you've flown west, I'll be sure to say thanks when I'm at the appropriate altitude.
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Where were you in Alaska and with who did you take your Beaver trip? -
We ended taking our kid and our parents on a cruise. Lot's of fun, but there is never enough time to explore. We did the float plane trip out of Ketchikan. I would love to own a Beaver, they are awesome float planes, but way to rich for my blood. They also like their fuel. Randy, our pilot from Mountain Air Service pointed out his fuel flow when we were at cruise, and it was using 23.5 gallons per hour. I'm more than happy to settle for a Bearhawk (possibly on floats). Our hope is to relocate to smaller community near Anchorage in 4-5 years so I can continue to work for the VA.Comment
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If you ever get close to Las Anchorage, look us Alaska BH guys up. Ketchikan is just barely in Alaska.
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We've been farther north than Ketchikan, that was just where we took the float plane trip. The first time we were in Alaska, our cruise ended in Whitier, and we drove to Anchorage. That tunnel is pretty cool. I definitely plan to head that direction. Hoping to make the trek in the Bearhawk for a sight seeing/house hunting trip. But I better get back to work if that's ever going to happen.Comment
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Nice, I like that.Originally posted by alaskabearhawk View Post
Mark
Scratch building Patrol #275
Hood River, ORComment
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I had a similar experience when I bought my quick build kit, it was a good deal to begin with then the previous owner threw in boxes of hardware and other odds and ends and when I got home he mailed some other pieces that we misses. I also drove from WI to the west coast to pick up my project, took us five days but one was spent in a blizzard in the middle of Montana.Comment
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