66% Bede BD-5J
 

Powered by a Wren 160 gas turbine engine. 11 feet wingspan. Weighs 58lbs. Flown by Andy Johnson of the at Cosford Large Model Association 2015.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCzg2fnvSts

That 66% model is a reminder of how tiny the full size version is.

Looks a tad less demanding to fly that the full size though.

I just did a little research on the Bede BD-5J and was slightly surprised to find that the CAA allows the prop version to fly but not the jet.

[h=2]I knew that the only prop version flying in Europe was destroyed in a crash recently. http://www.pilotweb.aero/news/bede_b...land_1_4170905[/h]

That's very sad to hear. Rest in peace Howard Cox.

My guess on why hey dont allow the BD5J to fly there is bc there is nowhere for an examiner to sit for the "check ride"

Almost looks like a foamy bouncing around on the ground and in the turbulent sky :-P

Your foam addiction is beginning to have an adverse affect on your vision Henke! :rolleyes:

That reminds me of an airshow I went to in the early 80's. The "Coors Silver Bullet Jet" (BD-5J) was to perform. I walked up and commented to my wife "Oh look, they've got a giant scale model of the plane too."

The pilot overheard me and said "No, this isn't a model, this is the real thing." Wow, it really was tiny!

Dave

Yeap, if your much over 5'10 and 180lbs, you wont fit.

Not so, pilots of 6'3 have flown the BD-5. The cockpit might have to be configured (seat back angle increased) to allow a tall pilot to fit. The famous author Richard Bach owned a BD-5J and he is 6'3.

Well I dare say it must have had some significant alterations for that height as well as the CG changes it might cause. Corkey Fornof and a woman who's name I cannot remember, brought two of the little jets into the local field for an airshow. They were known then I believe, as Acro Jets due to some of the legaleze involving Jim Bede. Anyway, they brought them in a horse trailer modified a bit, rolled 'em out and put them together.

I stood right next to the cockpit while I talked with him and their ain't no friggen way I could have got inside it and I'm 6'2".

Check out this video starting about 1:10 He talks a bit about himself and you get to see a commercial he made flying a BD-5J.

Well what would i know... ive only owned 3 of the things.

No disrespect. I do own one as well, and agree that no matter how you do it fitting into a BD-5 if your taller than 6 foot is a tight fit. However it can be done, even in a non-stretched fuse. Debbie Gray wrote an article for Air & Space magazine and said "

Oh, BTW I have been following the BD-5 for many years. First by reading all of the newsletters and other info sent out to BD-5 purchasers by Bede Aircraft, then by newsletters from Bede Micro when Kieth Hinshaw was developing the Honda auto engine conversion. After that I was in the BD-5 chat group on Yahoo run by Juan Jimenez and now I am a member of the BD-5 Facebook page. Also, I have been to several Oshkosh Air Shows in the 80's and 90's and of course had a Kitplanes subscription during those years as well.

Zeeb, Enjoyed the video of Corky Fornof !

Bd5 j
 

Byron BD converted to turbine power, Jet Cat P80, 87 inch span.( www.georgiajets.org).

Byron BD5 J

Etops that is a awesome flying site.

Regards,

Georgia Jets
 

Thank You