Bearhawk Aircraft’s Model 5 Makes First Flight

Six-place, 300 hp STOL airplane also hauls big loads.

Jonathan Welsh

Friday, November 11, 2022 at 04:37 PM ET

Verified

The six-place Bearhawk Model 5 has made its first flights. [Credit: Bearhawk Aircraft]

Key Takeaways:

The new Bearhawk Model 5, a six-place kit-built backcountry aircraft, has completed its first flight, significantly increasing the company's hauling capacity.
Pilots found the Model 5 performed as expected, demonstrating agile flying qualities, high speeds (up to 142 knots at 8,500 feet), and excellent handling for both off-airport and cross-country operations.
The aircraft is designed to accommodate Lycoming engines ranging from 250 to 315 hp, with the tested model featuring a 300 hp Lycoming IO-540 and a carbon-fiber propeller.

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Bearhawk Aircraft said its Model 5—a kit-built, six-place backcountry design—has completed its first flight. The new model brings increased hauling capacity to the Austin, Texas, company’s current lineup of two- and four-place airplanes.

The aircraft performed as expected, according to Rollie Van Dorn, an airline pilot who flew the Bearhawk 5 for its initial 25 hours and also flew the Model 5 prototype, along with other Bearhawk models.