There was a time when a company called Beaver RX Enterprises – which produced the Canadian Beaver designs – was among the leading North American ultralight manufacturers. In particular, the Beaver 550 tandem 2-seater attracted many customers. The company once claimed more than 3,500 ultralights flying. Certainly the model dominated the western Canadian market but also had a presence in the U.S. and other countries. The old Beaver RX Enterprises company went through a number of leadership changes and, driven by overly-ambitious management goals, finally succumbed. When I visited the now defunct company, the firm was a publicly-held corporation listed on the Vancouver Stock Exchange. Even the stock exchange has experienced a transformation, so perhaps it isn’t surprising that Beaver RX Enterprises also lost its heading. As we’ve seen with other good designs, however – such as Quicksilvers, Phantoms or Drifters – the better ultralights can outlast their ownership. The Beaver line is among those survivors.
Eye On the Sky Watch
Seating | 2-seat, tandem |
Empty weight | 420 pounds |
Gross weight | 950 pounds |
Wingspan | 33 feet |
Wing area | 155 square feet |
Wing loading | 6.1 pounds/sq ft |
Length | 21 feet 6 inches |
Height | 7 feet 2 inches |
Kit type | Assembly |
Build time | 175-195 hours |
Standard engine | Rotax 503 dual carb |
Power | 50 hp at 6,500 rpm |
Power loading | 19.0 lbs per hp |
Cruise speed | 70 mph |
Stall Speed | 29 mph |
Rate of climb at gross | 625 fpm |
Standard Features | Tandem 2-seater, dual controls, steerable nosewheel, composite fairing, wing tips, one-piece windscreen, skylight, safety harnesses, 9-gallon fuel tank, custom seat cushions, floorboards. All forming completed and pilot holes drilled. |
Options | Folding wings, Rotax 582 or 618 engine, electric start, Rotax C or E gearbox, 13.5-gallon fuel tank, full enclosure, tinted Lexan, wheel pants, instruments, 3-blade prop, fully-assembled option. |
Construction | Aluminum airframe, composite fairings, fabric covering. |
Design
Cosmetic appearance, structural integrity, achievement of design goals, effectiveness of aerodynamics, ergonomics.
Pros - The older and thoroughly engineered Beaver 650 is back as the SkyWatch with nearly 200 "significant changes." Refined version of the Beaver 550 that supposedly sold by the thousands. Can be a workhorse for flight schools or a roomy tandem ship for licensed pilots. Has earned Canada's TP-141 certification for microlight aircraft.
Cons - New company with other business; only a short aviation track record. Some instructors believe side-by-side is better for teaching. Virtually no U.S. presence (though that could easily change).
Systems
Subsystems available to pilot such as: Flaps; Fuel sources; Electric start; In-air restart; Brakes; Engine controls; Navigations; Radio; (items covered may be optional).
Pros - Differential hydraulic brakes were effective and appreciated at a crowded airshow. Easy fuel fill system and easily accessed engine (especially since plane sits on tail at rest). Electric starting spoils even purists and was appreciated in a warm cockpit.
Cons - No flaps or trim system| though not needed, these controls seemed missing on an otherwise rather deluxe airplane. No other negatives.
Cockpit/Cabin
Instrumentation; Ergonomics of controls; Creature comforts; (items covered may be optional).
Pros - Surprisingly easy entry to the rear, often not a strength of tandem designs. Wide, roomy cockpit with lots of headroom. Rear seat is quieter than many tandem designs as the engine is displaced further aft. Dual controls at both seats, all very accessible.
Cons - No adjustment on rear seat or rudder pedals.
Ground Handling
Taxi visibility; Steering; Turn radius; Shock absorption; Stance/Stability; Braking.
Pros - Very precise steering (assuming nosewheel is in contact with ground); turn radius seemed very tight. Very smooth and solid differential brake system, hydraulically activated. A little tailwheel keeps you moving when the tail touches even on sandy soil. Tough, steel main gear.
Cons - Loaded rather lightly on the nose; can rob the nosewheel of traction while taxiing. Though I experience no problems, the nosewheel struts appear less durable than main gear legs. Main gear felt rather spongy as though full compression could occur.
Takeoff/Landing
Qualities; Efficiency; Ease; Comparative values.
Pros - Unbelievably cooperative landings; touchdowns can't get much easier thanks largely to a massive flare window in ground effect. Slips were effective tools for landing approach. Flaps are hardly necessary given slip efficiency. Low descent rate takes away the "ground rush" of some ultralights.
Cons - Suggested minimum speed is 55 mph, rather high for some fields. Takeoff roll seemed rather lengthy for a plane with a good sink rate (no explanation). Heavy use of the rudder appeared necessary to hold runway heading in a crosswind.
Control
Quality and quantity for: Coordination; Authority; Pressures; Response; and Coupling.
Pros - Plenty of stick range in wide room cockpit. Steep turns never ran out of back stick. Overall a nice combination of handling characteristics for most pilots (pitch was very light; see article for changes made since test flight). Very low adverse yaw.
Cons - Pitch requires a little familiarization as it was quite light, giving it a feeling of "momentum." Factory reports this lightness has since been changed with a linkage change to decrease leverage. Roll rate isn't fast, though it was very cooperative.
Performance
Climb; Glide; Sink; Cruise/stall/max speeds; Endurance; Range; Maneuverability.
Pros - Descent rate was somewhat better than average for a 2-seater, but glide felt unusually strong (it was easy to note on landing). SkyWatch will cruise along nicely into the 70s. Clean machine could hold altitude at low power setting (low 4,000s).
Cons - Climb was not particularly strong (barely 700 fpm even with Rotax 582's 66 horses); a contrast to its in-flight efficiency and its low descent rate. Fuel use was not sparing (no measurement taken, though).
Stability
Stall recovery and characteristics; Dampening; Spiral stability; Adverse yaw qualities.
Pros - Stall breaks were mild in all tests. Power-on stalls kept climbing confidently. Rudder was surprisingly effective at low power settings in deep stall. Design exhibits a tendency to simply fly out of a spiral (perhaps good for training situations).
Cons - Some qualities of pitch gave me pause, though I could find no corroborating evidence of anything wrong (see article). Stalls in steep turns wanted to roll out rather vigorously the opposite direction; easily controlled by rudder application. In-flight trim would seem a very worthy idea.
Overall
Addresses the questions: "Will a buyer get what he/she expects to buy, and did the designer/builder achieve the chosen goal?"
Pros - Fresh new company that sounds dedicated to serving their customers (and older Beaver 650 customers needing parts). Deluxe airplane, especially for its weight at only 420 pounds with a Rotax 503 engine. Folding wing option. Beautifully finished interior. Canadian certification offers some level of comfort to those considering purchase.
Cons - Fairly expensive by American standards ($18,000 before options). Factory-quoted build time at about 200 hours is on the high side for this type of kit. Did not inspect builder materials or instructions. Not too many aircraft in field from Freedom Lite (though no complaints heard either).