The Bede BD-4 is an American light aircraft, designed by Jim Bede for homebuilding and available since 1968. It was one of the first homebuilt aircraft to be offered in kit form.[1] It remains one of the world's most popular homebuilts with thousands of plans sold and hundreds of examples completed to date.[citation needed]
Based on his previous work with innovative light aircraft, the BD-1 (eventually developed into the American Aviation AA-1 Yankee) and BD-2, Jim Bede designed the BD-4 to be one of the first real "kitplanes" in the world. (AOPA has credited the design of the BD-4 to aeronautical inventor Dave Blanton.[2]) The design was based on a high-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional design, able to be fitted either with a tailwheel or a tricycle undercarriage. When building the plane, it was also possible to choose between a two-seat or four-seat version.[3]
The intention was to allow people with little or no fabrication experience to start with a set of comprehensive plans and work up to a bolt-together operation in which complex components were provided from the factory. In order to simplify construction, there were few curved surfaces and most of the fuselage was made up of flat aluminum sheeting. The only major components with compound curves were the engine cowling and landing gear spats, which were made of fiberglass. The fuselage was constructed of aluminum angle braces bolted together to form a truss frame.[4]
An innovative feature of the BD-4 was the wing structure, which employed a 'panel-rib' constructed in sections, consisting of a rib whose upper edge was extended horizontally to become one section of the wing surface. The wing was progressively built up by sliding these sections together over the tubular spar and fastening them together where they met. One downside to the panel-rib construction was not noticed until the aircraft had been in service for some time. Because the panels were glued together, they formed a liquid-tight bond, unlike conventional systems using rivets. Instead of using a separate tank to hold fuel, builders simply drilled holes in the ribs to interconnect the sections to form a tank. In service, it was found that leaks inevitably developed due to problems like improper seals and natural flexing of the wing.[3][5] BedeCorp later redesigned the wing to use a more conventional system with separate fuel tanks in the BD-4C.[6]
Although the original wing design was easy to build, the more recent BD-4B features a redesigned, more conventional, metal wing with a tubular spar bonded to honeycomb ribs.[7]
The aircraft remained available as plans for amateur construction in 2017, from Bedecorp of Medina, Ohio, United States.[8]
Bede also wrote a 165-page BD-4 builder's book, Build Your Own Airplane, giving the amateur builder a perspective on construction techniques.[9]
Variantsedit
BD-4B
Two-seat or four-seat model with 1,250 lb (567 kg) empty weight and 2,400 lb (1,089 kg) gross weight. Estimated construction time is 900 hours. 700 completed and flown by 2011.[10]
BD-4C
Improved four-seat model with 1,200 lb (544 kg) empty weight and 2,400 lb (1,089 kg) gross weight. Estimated construction time is 700 hours. Two completed and flown by 2011.[10]
BD-16
Proposed stretched, six-seat variant, 1998. Not built.[11]
Specifications (BD-4B)edit
Data from Kitplanes and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage[10][12]
^ abDavisson, Budd: "Bede's BD-4," March, 1991, Air Progress, (as OCR-scanned and posted on the author's website as "Jim Bede's High-speed Packing Crate: the BD-4: A classic, fast mover"), page 1 of 2; retrieved June 24, 2023
^"What kind of airplane should you build?". Air Progress: 41. Winter 1971.
World Aircraft Information Files (File 890 Sheet 05). London: Bright Star Publishing.
Jim Bede: ... breakdown of the weight of all items ... List comparing Cessna 150 vs. BD-4, Bede Design 11, undated, retrieved 12 September 2017 - in lbs.
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The Bede BD 4 is an American light aircraft designed by Jim Bede for homebuilding and available since 1968 It was one of the first homebuilt aircraft to be offered in kit form 1 It remains one of the world s most popular homebuilts with thousands of plans sold and hundreds of examples completed to date citation needed BD 4BD 4Role Recreational utility aircraftManufacturer Bedecorp for homebuildingDesigner Jim BedeFirst flight 1968Introduction 1968Developed from BD 1Front view of a BD 4 taildraggerRear view of a BD 4 taildragger Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Specifications BD 4B 4 See also 5 References 6 Literature Weblinks 7 External linksDesign and development edit nbsp Tubular spar of a BD 4CBased on his previous work with innovative light aircraft the BD 1 eventually developed into the American Aviation AA 1 Yankee and BD 2 Jim Bede designed the BD 4 to be one of the first real kitplanes in the world AOPA has credited the design of the BD 4 to aeronautical inventor Dave Blanton 2 The design was based on a high wing cantilever monoplane of conventional design able to be fitted either with a tailwheel or a tricycle undercarriage When building the plane it was also possible to choose between a two seat or four seat version 3 The intention was to allow people with little or no fabrication experience to start with a set of comprehensive plans and work up to a bolt together operation in which complex components were provided from the factory In order to simplify construction there were few curved surfaces and most of the fuselage was made up of flat aluminum sheeting The only major components with compound curves were the engine cowling and landing gear spats which were made of fiberglass The fuselage was constructed of aluminum angle braces bolted together to form a truss frame 4 An innovative feature of the BD 4 was the wing structure which employed a panel rib constructed in sections consisting of a rib whose upper edge was extended horizontally to become one section of the wing surface The wing was progressively built up by sliding these sections together over the tubular spar and fastening them together where they met One downside to the panel rib construction was not noticed until the aircraft had been in service for some time Because the panels were glued together they formed a liquid tight bond unlike conventional systems using rivets Instead of using a separate tank to hold fuel builders simply drilled holes in the ribs to interconnect the sections to form a tank In service it was found that leaks inevitably developed due to problems like improper seals and natural flexing of the wing 3 5 BedeCorp later redesigned the wing to use a more conventional system with separate fuel tanks in the BD 4C 6 Although the original wing design was easy to build the more recent BD 4B features a redesigned more conventional metal wing with a tubular spar bonded to honeycomb ribs 7 The aircraft remained available as plans for amateur construction in 2017 from Bedecorp of Medina Ohio United States 8 Bede also wrote a 165 page BD 4 builder s book Build Your Own Airplane giving the amateur builder a perspective on construction techniques 9 Variants editBD 4B Two seat or four seat model with 1 250 lb 567 kg empty weight and 2 400 lb 1 089 kg gross weight Estimated construction time is 900 hours 700 completed and flown by 2011 10 BD 4C Improved four seat model with 1 200 lb 544 kg empty weight and 2 400 lb 1 089 kg gross weight Estimated construction time is 700 hours Two completed and flown by 2011 10 BD 16 Proposed stretched six seat variant 1998 Not built 11 Specifications BD 4B editData from Kitplanes and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage 10 12 General characteristicsCrew one Capacity three passengers Length 21 4 ft 6 5 m Wingspan 25 6 ft 7 8 m Wing area 110 sq ft 10 m2 Airfoil NACA 64 415 Empty weight 1 250 lb 567 kg Gross weight 2 400 lb 1 089 kg Fuel capacity 52 U S gallons 200 L 43 imp gal Powerplant 1 Lycoming IO 360 four cylinder horizontally opposed piston aircraft engine 200 hp 150 kW Propellers 2 bladed constant speed propellerPerformance Cruise speed 198 mph 319 km h 172 kn Stall speed 61 mph 98 km h 53 kn Range 900 mi 1 400 km 780 nmi Rate of climb 1 700 ft min 8 6 m s See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Wittman TailwindReferences edit The TEAM Aviation BD 4 AOPA members in the news in Pilot Briefing August 5 1997 AOPA Pilot Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association retrieved June 25 2023 a b Davisson Budd Bede s BD 4 March 1991 Air Progress as OCR scanned and posted on the author s website as Jim Bede s High speed Packing Crate the BD 4 A classic fast mover page 1 of 2 retrieved June 24 2023 What kind of airplane should you build Air Progress 41 Winter 1971 Mellema Roger March 1986 Fuel Tanks BD 4 Builders Owners Newsletter a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help BD 4C BedeCorp Bayerl Robby Martin Berkemeier et al World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011 12 page 97 WDLA UK Lancaster UK 2011 ISSN 1368 485X Tacke Willi Marino Boric et al World Directory of Light Aviation 2015 16 page 102 Flying Pages Europe SARL 2015 ISSN 1368 485X Books Bedecorp LLC Bedecorp com Archived from the original on 2013 09 17 Retrieved 2012 10 20 a b c Vandermeullen Richard 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer s Guide Kitplanes Volume 28 Number 12 December 2011 page 45 Belvoir Publications ISSN 0891 1851 Bede in Aerofiles com retrieved June 25 2023 Lednicer David 2010 The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage Archived from the original on 20 April 2010 Retrieved 15 October 2014 Literature Weblinks editTaylor Michael J H Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions 1989 p 123 ISBN 0 517 10316 8 Winchester Jim Bede BD 10 Concept Aircraft Prototypes X Planes and Experimental Aircraft Kent UK Grange Books plc 2005 ISBN 978 1 84013 809 2 World Aircraft Information Files File 890 Sheet 05 London Bright Star Publishing Jim Bede breakdown of the weight of all items List comparing Cessna 150 vs BD 4 Bede Design 11 undated retrieved 12 September 2017 in lbs External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bede BD 4 Official website Kitplanes retrospective on the BD 4 BD 4 Experimental Aircraft Association list of relevant contacts and index to dozens of BD 4 articles in EAA publications Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bede BD 4 amp oldid 1161838199, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
