BD-5 Information Memo - No. 2

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Courtesy of Mr. Ken Trager      > 

Introductory Order Form

BD-5 in Progress

Recent "tuft" tests with the "Micro" indicate absolute minimal turbulence. In fact, areas where some turbulence was expected turned out to be absolutely clean. Looks as though we have a mightily clean bird in the BD-5 "Micro"!

Next issue of this Information Memo we hope to publish latest pictures of the BD-5 nearing completion.
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions on the BD-5

• More information on installment purchasing. A customer placing an order for a BD-5 with a $200 deposit can enter into an agreement with Bede Aircraft to make monthly installment payments of $100 until the balance is paid in full. If a customer's airplane becomes available for delivery before the period covered by the installment agreement ends, he can elect to pay the outstanding balance due at that time and take delivery of his airplane. However, he can also elect to continue paying $100 monthly installments until the total price has been paid. Installment payment agreement forms are available from Bede Aircraft upon request.
• Could the BD-5 be made with two seats? The BD-5 is a single-place aircraft and an extra seat cannot be installed.
• Can kits be purchased without engine? The BD-5 will only be sold complete with engine.
• When will three-cylinder engines be available? There is a possibility that the three-cylinder engine (70 hp) might be available sometime in early 1972. Notification of availability will be published in this BD-5 Information Memo.
• When will the variable speed drive system be available? The variable speed drive system will be available by the end of 1971.
• Can a 15 gallon tank be used with smaller engines? Yes, the larger fuel tank can be used.
• Will the deposit be returned upon request? The signing of the Introductory Firm Price Order Form and the payment of a $200 deposit can be considered binding. However, the contract does outline our responsibility in this respect.
• Are jigs required? Only simple jigs will be needed for construction of such things as the tail sections. These can be easily constructed from wood by the average handyman.
• Could gross weight be more than stated in information kit? The gross weight of the BD-5 can be increased slightly, and more definite information on this will be published at a later date.
• Will D.O.T. accept the "Micro"? There should be no trouble with the D.O.T. (Canada) accepting the "Micro" once final FAA approval has been obtained in this country. (Note: Next Information Memo clarified this answer. -- J.)
•  Will the BD-5 be extremely noisy? Noise level in the BD-5 will be determined after first flights and finalization of insulation to be used in the aircraft. More details on this later.
• More information on forming squadrons. The idea of "Squadrons" is being well received everywhere. We will publish more information later as nothing yet has been finalized on this idea.
• How much forward visibility is there through the slanted windshield? Visibility in the BD-5 will be excellent - both forward and to the sides and, to some degree, rearwards.
• What type of shock absorption will be used? The fiberglass construction of the landing gear legs is a shock absorber in itself. (Note: An oleo shock absorber later replaced the fiberglass nosewheel leg. -- J.)
• How does the capacitor discharge ignition system work? Capacitor Discharge System is an electrical unit which has the ability to store an electric charge, thereby building up power which is released, under controlled relay, through the ignition system to the spark plugs. This charge, which has a tremendous reserve of power, insures a strong and powerful spark every time.
• How is the tricycle landing gear actuated? The tricycle gear is actuated mechanically by means of a hand lever inside the cockpit.
• Will we have the engine FAA approved? Yes. The engine will be approved by the FAA in the "Experimental" category. (Note: Next Information Memo clarified this answer. -- J.)
• By whom is the engine manufactured? The engine manufacturer's name will be announced in the very near future.
• Will the BD-5 meet the performance specifications as stated in the information kit? Performance specifications have been carefully calculated by computer and we fully expect the BD-5 to meet these specifications.
• Can potential customers go to Wichita to see the prototype? We will inform everyone interested in seeing the BD-5, after it has completed flight test, when it will be available for viewing.
• What provisions have been made for isolating the fuel tank from the cockpit in the event of a crash? There is a strong bulkhead between the fuel tank area and the cockpit. (Note: The fuel tank behind the pilot was moved to two fuel tanks in the wings. -- J.)
• Can the wings on a BD-5A and a BD-5B be interchanged? The wings on the BD-5A and BD-5B will be interchangeable.
• How would the increased gross weight affect the G limits? Increased gross weight effect on "G" limits will be calculated and details published in this Information Memo at a later date.
• Do you plan to offer the BD-5 as a completely assembled aircraft? The BD-5 will not be offered as a completely assembled aircraft. It is purely a homebuilt. (Note: The decision was later made to offer the BD-5D, which was to have been a version of the BD-5 fully certificated by the FAA and sold as a finished aircraft. -- J.)
• What is the service ceiling for the BD-5? Service ceiling for the BD-5 will be published soon.
• What airfoil is used? The BD-5 has a tapered airfoil section: Root - 632212. Tip - 632218. (Note: This is not correct, next Information Memo published the correct airfoil identification. -- J.)
• What types of instruments will be included in the materials package? Basic instruments will be included in the BD-5 materials packages, including airspeed indicator, altimeter, engine instruments, tachometer and compass.
• What type of brakes are used? Hydraulic disc brakes.
• Would the BD-5 be restricted in the area it can fly? The usual restrictions will apply for the first fifty hours of flying, as with all homebuilts, i.e. restricted to a 25-mile radius. After fifty hours there are no distance limitations on the aircraft whatsoever. (Note: Next Information Memo clarified this answer. -- J.)
• What will the cost be for the "Micro Hangar"? The cost of the "Micro Hangar" has not yet been finalized. This will be announced in the Information Memo when known.
• Is the $1,800 price for the 32 hp model? If so, what will be prices for the 40 hp model, 70 hp model and the twin-engine model? The $1,800 price for the basic BD-5A is an introductory price and is for the 32 hp model only. Optional engines of 40 and 70 hp will be available at a later date, when prices will also be announced.
• What material will be used for the fuselage? The fuselage is of aluminum angle construction, forming a framework inside a fiberglass shell-like hull. The frame will be entirely of bolt-together construction, with aluminum gussets and using aircraft quality bolts and screws. (Note: Information Memo No. 4 announced the switch to an all-metal fuselage. -- J.)
• Will the plane have an electric starter? An electrical system will be available as an optional extra, and will include everything needed for converting the BD-5 to electric start.
• Will the plane have a heater system? A heating system for the BD-5 has been designed, and will be offered as an option.
• Will a builder have to form metal and/or fiberglass parts? The difficult forming of raw material will be done by Bede Aircraft. The builder will be required to do all cutting, drilling and forming that can be easily done by simple shop tools.
• Is carburetor heat and mixture control provided for in the BD-5? There is no need for carburetor heat with the engine used in the BD-5. However, a mixture control will be necessary and this will be included in the complete aircraft materials package.
•  Will it be possible to install a radio in the BD-5? If so, what type? It will be possible to install a radio in the BD-5 "Micro", and we will be making available a suitable radio as optional equipment. WE will release further information on this after initial flight tests with the prototype BD-5.
• Does the BD-5 has a steering nosewheel? The nosewheel on the BD-5 will be free-castoring.
• Can the BD-5 be operated off of rough strips (dirt) (gravel)? The BD-5 can be operated out of any licensed airport.
• Can the wings be extended even more than the maximum 19.5 feet on the long wing version? This possibility has been considered, but we will not be considering any developments in this area until after the basic aircraft has been fully tested and flown.
• How many man-hours are required to build the BD-5? We estimate at this time that approximately 200 man-hours will be needed to construct a BD-5 to a ready to fly condition. (Note: The average time to construct the all-metal BD-5 from scratch from the materials shipped by Bede Aircraft is approximately 2,500 to 3,000 hours; the BD Micro Technologies FlightLine Series kits require between 700 and 900 man-hours to complete. -- J.)
• What is the cost of the extra set of wings needed to extend the span to 19.5 ft.? Actual price of the longer wings has not yet been finalized. However, we estimate between $150 and $200.
• What materials are used in the construction of the BD-5? The BD-5 is almost an all-metal aircraft, with wings, tail surfaces... (Note: The rest of this answer was apparently truncated during the editing process. -- J.)
• Can a customer purchase separate parts of the BD-5 -- such as plans, engine, etc.? At this time the BD-5 is available only as a complete aircraft package, including all materials necessary to construct the plane as well as engine, propeller, exhaust system, basic instruments, etc.
• What type of canopy is used? The canopy is supplied preformed and is of strong, clear Plexiglas. It will come complete with insulation strips, runner and hinges. The canopy hinges are on the left side.
• Is the propeller wood or metal? The propeller is made of wood.
• Can a builder install IFR instruments? Although there obviously would not be room for a complete panel, it is possible to install some IFR equipment. Full layout details and recommendations will be included in the BD-5 Instruction Handbook.
• What optional equipment will be available? A complete line of optional equipment is planned for the BD-5, although we do not have any catalogues or price lists at this time. We will finalize this after first flights with the BD-5 prototype.
• Will dealers or distributors be appointed in different parts of the country? We do plan on appointing dealers to handle the BD-5 in different parts of the United States. Further information on this will be available after production of the airplane has started.
• Will the BD-5 be safe for a low-time pilot to fly? The BD-5 will be perfectly safe for a low-time pilot. It will have built-in safety features that will make it suitable for anyone to fly. (Note: The BD-5A is not recommended for low-time pilots; in fact, it is not recommended at all. If you have a BD-5A, get yourself a pair of -5B wings. The BD-5B is easier to fly, but it still requires you to have experience other than initial flight training and small single-engine light aircraft time. It is recommended that you seek a high performance endorsement in a complex aircraft and reach/maintain currency and proficiency before attempting to fly the BD-5. At a minimum, 10 hours in an airplane with similar flight characteristics, like the Grumman AA-1, is recommended. -- J.)
• Will the BD-5 have any of the following features? Trim Tab - The BD-5 will have a three-axis spring bungee trim control. Alternator/Generator - The BD-5 will have an alternator/generator. Night Navigation Lights - Night navigation lights will be available as optional. (Note: BD Micro Technologies offers various nav/strobe light options for the BD-5. -- J.) Dual Ignition System - The engine has been modified for a dual ignition system, and this will be supplied as optional equipment.
• Is the wing construction the same as the BD-4? The BD-5 wing construction is basically similar to that on the BD-4, although made entirely of metal.
• Is the engine started from inside the BD-5? Standard equipment on the BD-5 will be a mechanical start which can be operated from inside the cockpit. It will be a pull-start system. An electric starter will be available as an option, and both manual and electric starters can be incorporated in the BD-5 at the same time.
• Will a dual-engine version of the BD-5 be available? We do have ideas for a dual-engine BD-5, but this will come much later.
• How will the BD-5 be restricted within FAA regulations? The "Micro" will be registered as a homebuilt with the FAA and will be classified as "Experimental".
• Will the engine have oil injection system, or will it require gasoline/oil mixture fuel? The two-cycle engine in the BD-5 has been modified in a number of ways to make it suitable for aircraft use, and one of these is the incorporation of an oil-injection system.
• Is a gas tank supplied? A gas tank, specially designed for the BD-5, is supplied in the complete aircraft materials. (Note: The production kits were modified to move the fuel from a gas tank behind the pilot to wing fuel tanks, 14 gallons to each wet wing. The wing construction includes construction of the fuel tanks, fuel filler, etc. -- J.)
• Will an Assembly Manual be available? An Illustrated Assembly Manual will be available for the BD-5. (Note: In reality, the manual is a Construction Profile, it covers the construction of the aircraft in some detail, but requires close examination of the drawings in order to determine the complete assembly details, such as rivet positions and spacing, dimensions of parts that have to be constructed, etc. -- J.)
• Does "takeoff" and "landing" distances refer to the ground roll? Takeoff and landing distances does refer to the ground roll.
• Will there be any problems in getting insurance for the BD-5? There should be no problem in obtaining insurance on the BD-5 -- it is a homebuilt in the "Experimental" category, and there are thousands in this category already covered by insurance. (Note: The EAA and AOPA have insurance programs specifically for Experimental, Amateur-Built aircraft. -- J.)
• In the contract agreement, can Bede Aircraft change the price or cancel the deposit? The reason for the official contract is to guarantee anyone placing his deposit at this time the firm price of $1,800. Even if the price of the BD-5 is raised after production begins, customers who originally ordered on this contract and placed their deposits will receive the aircraft for $1,800.
• Will a trailer be available? A special lightweight trailer for the BD-5 is being designed. But it will be more than a trailer! We are going to design it as a "Micro Hangar". It will be a self-contained, mobile hangar/trailer, into which the BD-5 can be stored and towed to any parking space. More details will eventually be released on this.
• How much time will it take to remove the wings? Only about two minutes will be required -- and just about as much time to reinstall them again. (Note: More like 5 minutes for each operation. -- J.)
• What about spin recovery? The BD-5 will have excellent spin-recovery ability. This has been one of our prime considerations in its design.
• Can an interested party test-fly the airplane? We will be allowing seriously interested potential customers to take a test flight in the prototype BD-5, just as soon as all initial flight tests have been completed. The availability of the prototype for this purpose will be announced later. (Note: In reality, this never happened. It was apparently decided later on that only Bede and the Bede Aircraft official test pilot(s) and selected employees would fly the prototypes. -- J.)
• How will the BD-5A compare with the BD-5B in aerobatic performance? The BD-5A will be noticeably better suited to aerobatics than the BD-5B, although some aerobatics will also be possible with the latter. A complete guide to flying aerobatics in the BD-5 is being prepared, and this will be available by the time deliveries start.
• Is there enough room in the cockpit for a parachute? Cockpit design took this into consideration and the parachute will form part of the seat back.
• How will the BD-5 materials be shipped to a customer? Complete materials will be made in one complete package, and will be shipped by motor freight or air -- whichever one a customer requests. (Note: In fact, deliveries were made in several shipments, and sometimes months passed between shipments, mostly due to problems with suppliers. Motor freight was standard, air freight was available at an additional cost. -- J.)
• Will the BD-5 be at Oshkosh in 1971? The BD-5 prototype will be at Oshkosh. It will be a BD-5A. However, we will attempt to have at least two BD-5's at Oshkosh, one possibly being the BD-5B.
• Can a student pilot fly the BD-5? A student pilot can fly the BD-5 while he is training, and can use it to log solo flying hours after he has completed dual time. (Note: The chances of this happening are, in my opinion, nil. You'll be hard-pressed to find an instructor who will be willing to sign you off for solo flight on a single-seat aircraft, let alone a high performance complex aircraft like the BD-5. It would be utter foolishness for a student pilot to attempt to fly the BD-5. -- J.)
• Will there be room on the BD-5 for an oxygen system? There will be room for an oxygen system.