[Renovatiopr]

Quote:

The BD-5 Micro is a series of small, single-seat homebuilt aircraft created in the late 1960s by US aircraft designer Jim Bede and introduced to the market primarily in "kit" form by the now-defunct Bede Aircraft Corporation in the early 1970s.

The BD-5 has a small, streamlined fuselage holding its semi-reclined pilot under a large canopy, with the engine installed in a compartment in the middle of the fuselage, and a propeller or jet engine in the BD-5J variant, mounted immediately to the rear of the cockpit. The combination of fighter-like looks and relatively low cost led to the BD-5 selling over 5,000 kits or plans, with approximately 12,000 orders being taken for a proposed factory-built FAA certified version.[1] However, few of the kit versions were actually completed due to the company's bankruptcy in the mid-1970s, and none of the factory built "D" models produced, brought on by the failure to deliver a reliable engine for the design.

In total, only a few hundred BD-5 kits were completed, although many of these are still being flown today. The BD-5J version holds the record for the world's lightest jet aircraft, weighing only 358.8 lb (162.7 kg).

Source: Bede BD-5 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is a Documentary dony by the History Channel



The famous scene of the James Bond Octopussy movie with the BD-5J


BD-5J Acrobatics





The BD-5J has a niche following and now there is a company called BD Micro Technologies, Inc. , Home of the BD-5 Aircraft , that plans to produce the kit again but this time with modern enhancements, glass instruments, reduced stall speeds, and aerodynamic tweaks.



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[Simba]

I've wanted one of those little SOBs for a long, long time.

Hilariously, my favorite thing about it is the speed of the gear retract.

[Hernando]

That's awesome. I gotta get me one of those.

And yeah, I agree. The landing gear retract is hilariously awesome.

[DrgnTmr]

I built an ultralight back in the late 70's.
FAA inspector certified it & commented he thought I was crazy.
I wonder how long this one would take to put together?

[POWERHOUSE]

[Renovatiopr]

^ That crash was a pilot error on final approach when he stalled the aircraft. The original kit was tricky and that is why there were mods for lowering the stall speed.