Found Aircraft Canada is assembling the first pre-production Bush Hawk light utility aircraft, with a maiden flight expected by early October. The aircraft will be used to certificate modifications to the original 1960s vintage Found FBA-2C design, which will be incorporated into new production aircraft. Found hopes to begin deliveries by November.
Changes to the already certificated FBA-2C, eight of which are still flying, include increasing the maximum gross weight to 1,450kg (3,200lb), from 1,360kg. The initial Bush Hawk, priced at about C$220,000 ($146,700), is powered by a 195kW (260hp) Textron Lycoming IO-540. A 225kW version is planned to follow.
Company founder Bud Found says the Bush Hawk is equipped with exhaust-gas and cylinder-head temperature instruments and precise mixture control to allow the pilot to "lean" the engine to reduce fuel consumption by 20%.
Found says the company, based near Toronto, has six orders and two options for the Bush Hawk. First deliveries will be to Aeropac Flights at Fort Smith in Canada's North West Territories, and to MHA Enterprises at St Theresa Point in Manitoba. The aircraft will be used for medical evacuation, tourism and air taxi operations, remote community work and mineral exploration support.
The company plans to build up production to 50 aircraft a year.
Source: Flight International
