Photograph:
Bede BD-5T Turboprop N644SA at the Hiller Aviation Museum at San Carlos in California in the United States (Author’s Collection)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 71 kw (95 shp) at 6,000 rpm Solar T-62 series constant-speed, torque-variable, turboshaft
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.58 m (21 ft 6 in)
- Length: 4.45 m (14 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 4.4 m² (47.4 sq ft)
- Max speed: 386 km/h (240 mph)
- Stalling speed: 101 km/h (63 mph)
- Rate of climb: 732 m/min (2,400 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 7,925 m (26,000 ft)
- Take-off run: 198 m (650 ft)
- Landing run: 229 m (750 ft)
- Limits: +/- 6G
- Ultimate limits: +/- 9G
- Empty weight: 204 kg (450 lb)
- Useful load: 194 kg (428 lb)
- Loaded weight: 413 kg (910 lb)
History:
The Bede BD-5 series was the subject over the years of much development due to the difficulty constructors were having in locating a suitable engine. A number of companies were involved in development, one company being BD Micro Technologies which developed a turbine powered model. Early variants of the BD-5T were fitted with a TRS-18 engine with a mechanically controlled variable pitch three-blade propeller, a retractable undercarriage and detachable wings, control system and horizontal stabiliser. It could be built with a 6.58 m (21 ft 6 in) or a 5.18 m (17 ft) wingspan, giving a 4.4 m² (47.4 sq ft) or a 3.51 m² (37.8 sq ft) wing area depending on the choice of the builder.
A couple of turboprop kits were imported to Australia and New Zealand but it is not at this stage known that any were completed or flown. One almost complete aircraft was advertised for sale as a project at Dixons Creek in Victoria in 2015. Another in New Zealand was completed as ZK-DYL (thought to be c/n 3902), fitted with a Garrett APU turbine, but it is not known to have flown and may have been exported. Examples in recent times which have been completed have been fitted with the Solar T-62 engine which has also been used in homebuilt helicopters.