Bede BD-2

Last updated
Bede BD-2
Role Experimental powered sailplane
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Bede Aircraft
Designer Jim Bede
Number built1
Developed from Schweizer SGS 2-32

The Bede BD-2 was an American experimental powered sailplane designed by Jim Bede to attempt an unrefuelled round-the-world flight. [1]

Contents

Development

The BD-2 was a modified Schweizer SGS 2-32 fitted with a specially modified Continental IO-360-C engine. [1] The BD-2 could carry 565 US gallons (2138 litres) of fuel in wing and fuselage tanks, and the modified engine produced only 30 hp (22.4 kW) during the cruise part of the flight. [1]

The BD-2 made its first flight from Wichita on March 12, 1967. [2] Between November 7 and 10, 1969, the aircraft set a world closed-circuit flight distance record for piston-engined aircraft, in which it covered 8,973.38 miles (14,441.26 km) in 70 hours 15 minutes. [1] [3] The flight had to be stopped following a complete electrical failure, and no further record flights were attempted by Bede. [1]

The BD-2 was modified by Javelin Aircraft of Wichita as the Phoenix, which was used by Jerry Mullens to set a new closed-circuit record for piston aircraft on December 5–8, 1981 of 10,070 mi (16207 km) in 73 h 2 min, which was also the longest non-refueled flight made by a solo pilot at the time. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Specifications (Phoenix)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83 [6]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

Schempp-Hirth Mini-Nimbus German single-seat glider, 1976

The Schempp-Hirth Mini Nimbus is a 15 Metre-class glider designed and built by Schempp-Hirth GmbH in the late 1970s.

Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3

The Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3 is a glider built by Schempp-Hirth.

Schleicher ASW 15 German single-seat glider, 1968

The Schleicher ASW 15 is a single-seat sailplane designed in 1968 by Gerhard Waibel and manufactured by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. The ASW 15 has shoulder-mounted wings and an all-flying tailplane, with its single tow-release placement a compromise between winching and aerotowing. The later ASW 15B had several improvements, including a tow-release placed on the plane of symmetry, an 11 cm taller rudder, a slightly larger main wheel, and the provision of a 90-litre water ballast system.

SZD-9 Bocian Polish two-seat glider, 1953

The SZD-9 Bocian is a multi-purpose two-seat sailplane that was designed and built in Poland at Szybowcowy Zakład Doświadczalny in Bielsko-Biała, beginning in 1952. It was designed to be capable of fulfilling the needs of every area from training to competition flying.

Brditschka HB-3

The Brditschka HB-3, HB-21 and HB-23 are a family of motor gliders of unorthodox configuration developed in Austria in the early 1970s.

Oberlerchner JOB 15

The Oberlerchner JOB 15 was an Austrian two-seat light aircraft produced by Josef Oberlerchner Holzindustrie, which had previously designed and built gliders.

The Fauvel AV.45 was an unorthodox motor glider produced in France in the 1960s and 1970s. Like other Charles Fauvel designs, it was a tailless aircraft, in this case inspired by the work that German firms had done on producing motorised versions of his AV.36 design. The prototype of the AV.45 was an extensively modified AV.36 powered by a Nelson H-59 two-stroke engine. AV.45s have been built with a number of other engines, however, including at least one aircraft powered by a small turbojet. Falconar marketed the plans in the 1970s.

ICA IS-28

The ICA IS-28 is a two-seat sailplane produced in Romania in the 1970s. An all-metal aircraft of conventional design with a T-tail, it was originally produced with 15-metre wings, but in 1973, production shifted to the IS-28B with 17-metre wings and numerous aerodynamic refinements. These included a smaller tail with decreased dihedral, decreased dihedral on the wings, and redesigned fuselage contours. This version first flew on 26 April 1973 and was subsequently produced in versions with flaps (IS-28B2) and without (IS-28B1). Around 100 had been built by the early 1980s, with a substantial number sold for export. On April 7, 1979, Tom Knauff and R. Tawse set a world record with the IS-28 B2 glider, covering a distance of 829 kilometres on a predetermined out-and-return course from the Ridge Soaring Gliderport in Julian, Pennsylvania.

The ICA IS-32 is an open class high-performance metal two-seat sailplane produced in Romania in the 1970s. A refinement of the IS-28B, it shared most of that aircraft's fuselage, mated to new wings and empennage. This new wing had a span of 20 metres, featuring interconnected ailerons and flaps, Schempp-Hirth-type airbrakes. It had no provision for water ballast. The monowheel undercarriage differed from the IS-28 in being fully retractable.

The Issoire Silène was a sailplane produced in France in the 1970s and early 1980s, intended primarily as a trainer. It was a conventional design of fibreglass construction in versions with fixed or retractable monowheel undercarriage. The aircraft featured side-by-side seating for two, with the seats slightly staggered in order to minimise fuselage width. French certification was obtained on 3 February 1978, and production began shortly thereafter at the rate of two aircraft per month.

The PIK-3 was a sailplane produced in Finland in the 1950s and 60s. It was designed to be a cheap and easy-to-build aircraft to equip the country's gliding clubs as their standard single-seat machine. It was a conventional design for its day, with a high wing and conventional empennage. Construction was of wood throughout, skinned in plywood.

PIK-5

The PIK-5 was a training glider produced in Finland in the 1940s, and 1950s, equipping the country's gliding clubs with an aircraft greater in performance than primary gliders but less than competition sailplanes.

Scheibe Bergfalke German two-seat glider, 1951

The Scheibe Bergfalke is a German glider designed by Egon Scheibe as a post-World War II development of the Akaflieg München Mü13 produced before and during the war.

Scheibe SF 34 German two-seat glider, 1978

The Scheibe SF 34 Delphin is a two-seat sailplane that was produced by Scheibe in Germany in the late 1970s and 1980s. Designed by Wolf Hoffmann and originally designated the SF H34, it was Scheibe's first unpowered aircraft of composite construction.

Zenair CH 200

The Zenair Zenith CH 200 and CH 250 are a family of Canadian single-engined homebuilt light aircraft. It is a low-winged single engine monoplane, that was first flown in France in 1970, with kits being made by the Canadian company Zenair from 1974, with hundreds built and flown.

Akaflieg Berlin B13 Two-seat German motor-glider, 1991

The Akaflieg Berlin B13 is a two-seat motor-glider designed and built in Germany.

The Quickie Aircraft Corporation Free Enterprise was an American experimental long-range aircraft of the 1980s, designed to attempt the first unrefuelled flight round-the world flight. The Free Enterprise was a single-engined high-winged monoplane of conventional configuration. It first flew in March 1982, but was destroyed in a fatal crash later that year.

Heinkel He 71 German monoplane prototype

The Heinkel He 71 was a German single-seat monoplane, a smaller version of the two-seat Heinkel He 64. A low-wing monoplane with a fixed conventional landing gear, the prototype first flew with an open cockpit and a 60 hp (45 kW) Hirth HM 60 engine. It was later modified with an enclosed cabin and a 78 hp (58 kW) Hirth HM 4 engine. With additional fuel tanks to increase range it was used by German aviator Elly Beinhorn on a flight around Africa.

SZD-51 Junior

The PZL Bielsko SZD-51 Junior is a Polish single-seat training and club sailplane.

The Akaflieg Darmstadt D-39 was a single-seat motor glider derived from the D-38 sailplane. Built in Germany in the late 1970s, it was not intended for production and only one was constructed.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Orbis 1985, p. 516
  2. Flight International 30 March 1967, p. 477.
  3. Taylor 1976, p. [72].
  4. http://fai.org/record/3786
  5. Taylor 1982, p. [67]
  6. 1 2 Taylor 1982, p. 548.
  7. Flight International 30 January 1982, p. 215.

Bibliography

  • "Around the world without refuelling". Flight International . No. 30 January 1982. pp. 214–215.
  • "Bede's Orbital Sailplane Flies". Flight International . No. 30 March 1967. p. 477.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1976). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN   0-354-00538-3.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1982). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN   0-7106-0748-2.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.