I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the BD 5J. Im contemplating purchasing one and was wondering what sorts of good and bad reports or suggested mods guys have ? Does anybody recall what the kit retailed for ? I will either convert to turbine or perhaps try the new Electric Vio fan when it becomes available. I have RAM 500 or Wren Supersport for turbine choices. Thanks

T n B, talk to Paul Pignary about his Byron BD5.
Coolest homebuilt jet!


Joe

I think someone in Austin has molds for a BD-5J... Maybe they'll show up next weekend, or if not, someone would know who has the molds.

I talk to Jet Mart USA last week.. they have a tractor/turbine kit available. But, they are not starting up production for another month or two. This is the one I am gonna purchase!

I bought a Byron BD-5J already built with the Byron Fan/OS 91 combo in it as my first ducted fan. Boy, I don't think that was a good beginner's airplane because of engine reliability issues (overheating) and ground handling problems. However, I think it would make a great turbine platform, especially for something in the 70-80 N range.

I still have my BD-5 and someday plan on converting it to turbine power, but before I plant a turbine in it, here's what I plan on doing.

1. Build new wings that are foam sheeted then fiberglassed. The original kit calls for just mono-coating the foam core wings. Along with the new wings I would strengthen the ailerons and flaps.

2. New landing gear. The spring air retracts that Byron suggested were for aircraft up to 15 lbs. That's what the ducted fan version was ready to fly and I would replace parts on the gear about ever 3rd flight. I think a nice set of Robarts of BVM gear with wheels and brakes would be perfect.

3. Make sure you have a working rudder. I had ground control problems because the aircraft would start to rotate and lose all directional control until it was airborne, about 3-5 seconds later. I think I'd put a gyro on the rudder/nose wheel as well.

4. Absolutely assure that the CG is in the proper location. The guy who built mine did not and my first flight was VERY exciting, but I got it back in once piece, minus the gear.

5. Finally, all of the usual improvements such as reinforcing linkages, hinges, etc. and installing a good by-pass/inlet system.

Once I get the money and time, I look forward to a very good flying model that will fly extremely slow! Let me know how your progress goes.

Mark West
Salt Lake City, Utah
Fly RedBull

I don't think you mean heading hold gyro do you? I flew a jet that had its gyro mistakenly set to heading hold mode (as used in helicopters) and it was a famously bad experience!

Bob

Rick Fusco in the Georgia Jets club built and has been flying this P-80 powered Byron BD-5 for some time. It was originally a ducted fan and Rick modified the airplane significantly. Hopefully he will see this thread, and provide some details. One thing for sure, it looks and flys great.

Craig

I talked to Rick a little over a year ago. If I get one of these I need to talk to him again and get some pictures of his install and what not. thanks for the info guys, keep it coming. I still dont know for sure what the lits used to retail for.

That RC BD-5 looks great. Hope to see more of it.

Hey Rick,

Please do share your pictures of installation and mods you made to your BD.

in where it is the video of this BD5?

The video is at georgiajets.org. I will get some pictures of the installation. Rick 770 914 7901.

I think i'm the only one in Canada with a turbine BD5-J from Jetmart.
The plane flies great with 12 lbs turbine and is pretty quick!
I do want to sell it to finance another helicopter if anyone is interested.
Wings are not removeable though but I did have a gentleman question if I could cut them off at the root. (Which I could do).
Here's my ad at RCC:
http://rccanada.ca/bb/viewtopic.php?t=26319


Myles

Did anyone get in touch with Rick Fusco?

I THINK PETER LIEBETRAU IN GERMANY SELLS A VERY NICE KIT OF THE BD-5

I have a Jet-Mart USA BD5-j converted to turbine. It's an awesome little plane and it flies great!
Myles

I wonder how much?

Forgot to mention that my BD5-J has 12lbs turbine for power and it flies it beautifully at 1/3 throttle.
Myles

I fly the Liebetrau-BD5J in the 2nd season, meanwhile about 50 flights... It's a halfscale-jet with a wingspan of 2,60meters. I use a JetCat P160. It's only nessecary for starting on short grass-strips, for flying I need 25% throttle.

This year I won the german jet masters in class semiscale with this model and take the 1st plase at the german masters for motor-models in flying competition (10. Place over all). It flies very smooth, like a well powered sailplane. It's absolutely NO model for 3D-fun-- ;-)

Peter Liebetrau brings the new kit next year, complete with gears...Please ask him for further details.

Andy

The Byron BD5-J that I have been flying was first built and flown for many years by a good friend of mine. It started flying with an OS 77 then the 91. After that I built new wings and horz.tail and modified the aircraft for a P80 @17#. It weighs 21 pounds dry. I enjoy flying this airplane. Rick

Also I installed doublers on the fus. spar mounts, relocated the ele. and rudder servo to the tail, reinforced the vertical fin. Installed 2, 40 oz Dubro tanks on the CG. It has a Tam`s pipe. The paint is PPG base / clear. Rick

This is a great thread for the BD-5J enthusiast of which I am one of them. Please keep the info coming.

Joe

Got 2 more pictures.

ETOPS,

How does your BD5J fly with the P-80, any bad habbits or things I should watch out for?

Hello All,
Rick's BD-5J still out there building time and cycles!


Cheers!
Desert Fox 1