Bearhawk Fly-In at VA04 in Fincastle, VA 10/18/2025

[jaredyates]

Save the date for Bob's annual fly-in at his airport on Saturday, October 18th. As usual, Bob will provide a main course lunch on Saturday and guests are invited to bring a covered dish to share as they are able.

This year Bob has said he's interested in finding a new home for some of his treasure trove of retired Bearhawk parts. If you are a scrounging type of builder, this could be quite an opportunity! Bring tools, he says.

We can talk more about the details as we get closer to time, but meanwhile, be sure to mark your calendar and post any questions you may have about logistics and plans. Sometimes folks travel up the day before and camp. It's a wonderful time of year to go to the mountains in Virginia!

[John Bickham]

It looks like the weather, and the stars have aligned for a trip from New Mexico to Virginia! Still looking at forecast up to the last minute. Should we notify Bob that we are attending? Not seeing any post since this original announcement. Still a go?

Any info or briefing would be appreciated.

[jaredyates]

Still a go, no need to notify Bob but you are welcome to of course. It would be great to see you!

[SpruceForest]

Not quite far enough along to fly Carlo's Patrol down from FDK, but looks like we will be taking his AirCam down to handle a cowl back-haul (lots of room behind the back seat in a flying cargo canoe). Target is Oshkosh 2026 (he ordered plans after Oshkosh 2023!) for his airplane and mine will be somewhere downstream of that!

See you at Fincastle 2025...


Carlo_Patrol_Sept25.jpg

[Bcone1381]

I hope I can make it. Things have to line up just right. The plane and camping gear are packed. I'm on the road until Friday. If nothing breaks while I'm gone, the weather cooperates, and a few other things happen I will launch saturday morning from southern Michigan. It's a 3 hour flight in the Patrol. I'll camp out Saturday night at Bob's and fly home Sunday.

[Bcone1381]

Forecast says significant system with IMC weather system will move over my route and prevent returning home in a timely manner. I’ll shoot for next year’s picnic.

[John Bickham]

It will certainly be good to put faces with posts! There have been a few people who's help got me through the build and beyond. Did talk briefly with Bob.

Plan is to leave New Mexico with my daughter Thursday daybreak. Lunch north of OK City for visit with her Iraq deployment buddy.

RON at Gaston's (northern Arkansas).

Head to Fredericksburg to my daughters home Friday night. May stop at Bob's Friday if ahead of schedule. Fly from Fredericksburg to Bob's Saturday am.

Will be good to visit and pass a good time.

[SpruceForest]

Launching the Aircam out of FDK in about two hours. See you folks there.

[Bcone1381]

I'll be missing you guys due to weather. See you next year! Say hi to Bob and Mike for me!

[jaredyates]

The weather was perfect and there was a very good turnout!

[SpruceForest]

Had a good time and definitely wanted to stay longer, but temperature drops pretty quickly after sundown, and we already had spent 3.2 chilling out on the way down. Thanks to all for the help getting the cowling secured on the AirCam... definitely raised an eyebrow or two at our fueling stop. Got to talk with interesting people and see some fine airplanes, eat good comfort food (BBQ, chili, sour cherry pie, etc.), and wish Bob a very happy birthday and wishes for many more of these great family and friends celebrations.

The ride back was leaf peeping at it's best... Skyline Drive was awesome, and the temp was up enough so that at 3500-4000 feet, we were pretty comfortable. Carlo's wife, one of her students, and a couple of others helped unload and secure the airplane at the other end, so we ended up with six hours logged between sunrise and sunset. A good day of flying made better by the time spent at Bob's place.

Note: To the gentleman I discussed ADS-B issues with, feel free to give me a call if we did not resolve your issue.