Bearhawk Aircraft, best known for its two- and four-place utility homebuilts, will offer a new, larger model called the Bearhawk 5. According to the company, the 5, penned by noted designer and engineer Bob Barrows, “made its first flight on May 3rd. The prototype has flown more than 5 hours in testing and is exhibiting excellent flight characteristics, according to test pilot Rollie van Dorn. Further flight testing is expected to confirm the airplane’s projected 3,000-LB gross weight.” Where the other Bearhawk models use smaller, four-cylinder engines, the Bearhawk 5 has a “spec-built” six-cylinder, 315-HP Lycoming IO-580 on the nose. The first Bearhawk Model 5 “was built in collaboration with avid Bearhawk builder Collin Campbell of Bolivar, Missouri. Collin has scratch built a fleet of different Bearhawk models and has a reputation for outstanding workmanship.”
“The company is looking to validate the planned 3000-pound max-gross weight. If it does and the 1512-pound empty weight holds, the Bearhawk 5 will be able to carry more than its own weight in payload.”
I don’t follow the arithmetic. That’s 1488 useful load. Payload would be less still with enough fuel to go anywhere plus reserve.
“Almost” seems to be the new operative word in the corrected version.
The “venerated” Cessna 185s which I flew in an earlier lifetime actually could carry their own empty weight in useful load. In that setting, for which they were made, we routinely loaded and hauled two full 55 gallon steel barrels standing up. Looking at the Bearhawk it seems like a person would be hard pressed to fit a 55 gallon barrel through that door.
Yes, ‘almost’ was added. But take a look at the video where the cargo doors are open - notably at the 4:00 minute mark, where a person adds some scale. It looks to me as if a 55 gallon drum could either be angled in or be loaded sideways (and then set upright).