Bede BD-6

BD-6
Role	Sports plane
Manufacturer	Bedecorp for homebuilding
Designer	Jim Bede
First flight	1974
Number built	2

The Bede BD-6 is a single-seat light aircraft first flown in the United States in 1974. Similar in design to the Bede BD-4, it is a high-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration. The BD-6 is marketed as a kit homebuilding.^[1]

The prototype was damaged in St Louis in the Great Flood of 1993, but in 2005 was reportedly under restoration by Bedecorp. The company created new drawings to finally bring the design to market. By 2011 kits were for sale for US$13,000 and two aircraft had been flown.^[1]

The aircraft's recommended engine power range is 50 to 80 hp (37 to 60 kW) and standard engines used include the 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E four-stroke powerplant.^[1]

Specifications (prototype)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976–77^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 16 ft 9 in (5.11 m)
• Wingspan: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
• Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
• Wing area: 55.5 ft² (5.16 m²)
• Empty weight: 375 lb (170 kg)
• Gross weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hirth 720, 55 hp (41 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 140 mph (225 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 148 mph (238 km/h)
• Range: 450 miles (724 km)
• Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,265 m)
• Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)

References

1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 45. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
2. Taylor 1976, p. 498.

• Fricker, J. "The Mighty Hirth: Out of the Cold and Into the Blue". Flying (September 1973).
• Taylor, John W. R. (1976). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-354-00538-3.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 123.
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 05.
• Manufacturer's website