James - Patrol Dreamer

[James]

Hi Fellow Bearhawk Clan Members,

well, I've inherited a set of plans from a mate who thought he should pass the project on to someone younger (= not more energy, maybe just more naive).

It's gonna be a long road: I don't know how to fly yet, and in fact this is the first internet forum I've ever joined. So, lots of little steps. But I used to be a rappel firefighter here in Australia (sort of like a smokejumper, in American terms) and I'm currently a helicopter mechanic, and one day I woke up and realised that I'd never go up in any helicopter I could actually afford to own. The Patrol is a pretty good second choice, so I'm in. On the plus side, I've got a farm to store it, and a ton of tropical beaches and alpine snow plains in this country to mooch around. Australia's probably the best place in the world to have a plane - it's got lots of flat, open space and no weather.

So I'm going to kit-build a Patrol over the next few years, save up some money... I'm starting with the things I can manage first-up, and I've got two main questions:

1) Has anyone ever built up a Patrol wings and fuselage in a 40ft shipping container? (I have to move around with my work).

2) Does the Quick-build kit come with hardware, or should I start scrounging as per the 4-place Bearhawk list on this forum?

Any information would be really appreciated, hope to join you up in the clouds one day,

James

[LukeS]

James, welcome to the group! I'm currently build a 4-place from scratch starting from a previous builder's project. The 8 foot width of the shipping container is going to make things extra challenging for you. I'm currently building my project in one of 3 bays in my garage. It gives me about a 8'6" foot wide foot print because of other stuff in my garage. Is it working? Yes, but an extra foot on each side would make all the difference in the world. If you go this route, I would consider making your bench to minimal width. Good luck with your project.

[James]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys, and the advice. Yes, I already have a 20ft container decked out with all my woodworking gear, thicknessers and routers etc, so I know about maximising space. That's why I'm thinking about a 40footer, i'll put the benches and the dormant sections down one end, while up the other end have a movable trolley bench I can shuffle side to side (or even outside - that's a great idea, thanks). I'm on good money and I love my job, but I'm living away from home... Building a plane will be a good way to soak up time in the evening rather than go down the pub! I spent a bit of time reading the post "scratch build or kit?", and definitely, I'll be the guy who enjoys building the plane more than flying it, I suspect.

Thanks again, James

[DRLPatrol]

How about some kind of trolley system to roll your bench outside while you are working on it, then roll it back in.
Welcome
Doug

[Bcone1381]

James,

It might seem at first that younhave a lot of irons in the fire...learning to fly, and building an airplane. Concentrate on building the Patrol, and don't worry about the flying part. You have what it takes to learn to fly the Patrol. You have way more than what it takes to build the Patrol. Focus on One small step at a time, an it will all get done.

Brooks

[Mark Goldberg]

Hello James. I am happy to answer your questions about the kits and what comes with them etc. I own the kit manufacturing company. My email is N95MF@hotmail.com. That is a discussion that would be better in private rather than on this forum.

There is one Patrol flying from our kit in Perth. There is another owned by Merv Hargraves. Merv built his from plans. I last saw him when he came to Texas after Oshkosh. But I have lost contact with him. He is surely flying his Patrol by now also. You have picked a great plane to build and will enjoy it tremendously if you have the perseverance to see it through. All the best to you in your efforts. Mark

[James]

Hi Everyone,
just a suggestion for those nomadic bearhawk builders "with no fixed address": you can also purchase 20ft shipping containers where one / both long sides open up with fold-back doors... might be a good way to gain access to both sides of the project during buildup, rather than a roll-out trolley. Thanks for the suggestions,

James