02/28/2014. Remarks by Walter van Tilborg and Johan Visschedijk: "Design work on the Bearhawk was started by Robert Barrows of Fincastle, Virginia, USA in 1980. The emphasis in the high-wing original-design homebuilt was on simple construction and low maintenance costs. The type has a mixed steel tube and fabric construction and can also be operated on floats or skis. Barrows built a prototype that first flew in 1994, powered by an 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine, driving a two-blade propeller. It was registered N6890R (c/n 195690).

Plans became available in 1994 via Barrows' R & B Aircraft Company at Fincastle, while kits became available in 2001. Presently kits and plans are marketed by Bearhawk Aircraft of Austin, Texas, USA, while the kits are manufactured by Bearhawk's production company AviPro Aircraft Ltd. at Atlixco, Mexico.

RB-4 Bearhawk 180. This variant is similar to the prototype, but usually flown as a two-seater.
RB-4 Bearhawk 260. This full four-seat version is very similar, but is suited for more powerful engines in the 180-300 hp range. The second Bearhawk prototype, built by the designer in 1999 and registered N33RB (c/n 195699), has a 260 hp Lycoming O-540 engine with a three-bladed propeller.
Bearhawk Patrol. Two-seat derivate.
Roverhawk. This name was applied to a Bearhawk completed in Canada by G. Wardstrom in 2003, registered C-GZSY (c/n 357). This aircraft is fitted with a modified GM/Rover car engine fitted with reduction gear designed and constructed and built by the builder.

NOTE: The resembling Bearhawk LSA is a different design.

The pictured aircraft was built by Russell E. Erb of Rosamond, California, and fitted with a Lycoming O-540-A4D5 engine it first flew on June 7, 2008. The Bearhawk normally has no wheel pants, the pants on N6786E were finished in April 2013, and each has a small storage compartment, containing the wheel chocks, tie-down straps, and pitot tube cover. At least one Bearhawk was built with a GM/Chevrolet LS-1 modified car engine and one with a modified Subaru. By late 2013 many Bearhawk aircraft were under construction and at least 100+ had been completed worldwide, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand."