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New member to the forum here. I am a 55 year old airline guy, and very much looking forward to never seeing the inside of an airline terminal again. We will be empty nesters in about 3 years, so I plan on starting a build right about then. I have been slowly finishing my workshop, and now have a nice air-conditioned space for a build. The only thing left to do is some framing for one wall and a bathroom. I plan on building 3 or 4 work tables as well. Once I start, I want to have my build done within 2 years.
I hope to be placing a kit order sometime around the end of 2025. I am still undecided on what I will build. As a first time builder, I had previously ruled out a Bearhawk due to the complexity of the project. I am very much a follow the directions type of guy.
I am an avid astro-photographer, and plan on combining the two hobbies. Flying to dark sky sites to camp out and set up my telescope very much appeals to me. Those types of trips will most likely be solo. (My wife has three rules: No sitting in the back seat, No sleeping on the ground, and there must be a shower.)
First, the perfect airplane does not exist. Every one is a compromise of some sort. 99% of my flying will be either solo, or with just 1 other person. I live in North Texas, and I plan on doing quite a bit of flying out west and north, so anything less than 120mph just isn't going to cut it. That rules out a Highlander, KitFox, etc. I do plan on having a light IFR capable plane. I won't be flying much, if at all, at night.
I think my solo flights will take me mostly to back-country type strips, but I would like to be able to go off airport with little worry. Something like the Rans S-21, or the Glasair Sportsman 2+2 would have my worried about durability, especially with the horizontal stab, so I would have to limit my choices of destination.
The only other airplane I would consider is the RV-15, but at this point, it's kind of like Bigfoot to me. I may or may not exist, but there are a few pictures.
That brings me to Bearhawk, specifically a Companion or 4. If Bearhawk comes through on the new build manuals, I think either one would go to the top of my list. The active forum definitely gives it an edge too.
Sorry for the long first post.
I hope to be placing a kit order sometime around the end of 2025. I am still undecided on what I will build. As a first time builder, I had previously ruled out a Bearhawk due to the complexity of the project. I am very much a follow the directions type of guy.
I am an avid astro-photographer, and plan on combining the two hobbies. Flying to dark sky sites to camp out and set up my telescope very much appeals to me. Those types of trips will most likely be solo. (My wife has three rules: No sitting in the back seat, No sleeping on the ground, and there must be a shower.)
First, the perfect airplane does not exist. Every one is a compromise of some sort. 99% of my flying will be either solo, or with just 1 other person. I live in North Texas, and I plan on doing quite a bit of flying out west and north, so anything less than 120mph just isn't going to cut it. That rules out a Highlander, KitFox, etc. I do plan on having a light IFR capable plane. I won't be flying much, if at all, at night.
I think my solo flights will take me mostly to back-country type strips, but I would like to be able to go off airport with little worry. Something like the Rans S-21, or the Glasair Sportsman 2+2 would have my worried about durability, especially with the horizontal stab, so I would have to limit my choices of destination.
The only other airplane I would consider is the RV-15, but at this point, it's kind of like Bigfoot to me. I may or may not exist, but there are a few pictures.
That brings me to Bearhawk, specifically a Companion or 4. If Bearhawk comes through on the new build manuals, I think either one would go to the top of my list. The active forum definitely gives it an edge too.
Sorry for the long first post.
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