Photograph:
Bede BD-4 VH-BBO (c/n W73) at Albion Park, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light homebuilt monoplane
Power Plant:
One 112 kw (150 hp) Lycoming O-320 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
- Length: 6.52 m (21 ft 4½ in)
- Height: 2.2 m (7 ft 2¾ in)
- Wing area: 9.51 m² (102.33 sq ft)
- Max speed: 273 km/h (170 mph)
- Cruising speed: 257 km/h (160 mph)
- Stalling speed: 101 km/h (63 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 335 m/min (1,100 ft/min)
- Range: 1,287 km (800 miles)
- Empty weight: 458 kg (1,010 lb)
- Loaded weight: 816 kg (1,800 lb)
History:
James R Bede, the well-known light aircraft designer in the USA, formed Bede Aircraft Inc at Newton, Kansas to undertake the design and production of plans and kits of a variety of aircraft for amateur construction. These have included the diminutive BD-5 series, which was designed to be powered by a number of small engines, including the Xenoah three-cylinder, or, in the BD-5J version, a 202 lbst Microturbo turbojet. By 1976 more than 2,000 kits of the BD-4s had been sold and more than 750 had been completed.
The BD-4 series was designed for amateur construction and could be built in two-seat or four-seat models. More than 1,000 examples have been completed throughout the world, and examples have been built in Australia and New Zealand, with at least ten examples completed and registered. In later years examples have been registered under AUF / RAA Regulations. The BD-4 could be fitted with a tricycle undercarriage or tailwheel type gear, and both variants have been built in Australia.
The wing of the BD-4 was built around 24 glass-fibre ‘panel-ribs’ which were fitted over a 12.7 cm (6½ in) diameter extruded aluminium spar, to which they were secured by epoxy resin and tube clamps. Each wing then slid for 30.48 cm (12 in) over a smaller centre section tube. The fuselage was an all-metal structure made of 2024-T3 formed angles and bolted together. The skin was pop-riveted or bonded to the primary structure. The swept fin, rudder and all-moving tailplane were metal.
Engines ranging from 81 kw (108 hp) to 149 kw (200 hp) could be installed. The lower powered engines were usually fitted to the two-seat machine, and the 112 kw (150 hp) to 149 kw (200 hp) engines to the four-seat aircraft.
Bede BD-4s registered in Australia have included: VH-ABD (c/n S19), VH-BBO (c/n W73), VH-BDA (c/n N47), VH-BGW (c/n N24), VH-BRC (c/n N62), VH-ECW (c/n Q12), VH-AYQ/VH-UWY (c/n N58), VH-BDW (c/n N108), VH-HCH (c/n N142), and VH-XBD (c/n S19).
Bede BD-4s registered in New Zealand have included ZK-RDH (c/n AACA/285).