NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The world's smallest jet aircraft, the BD-5J is a single seat home built kit aircraft that was introduced in the early 1970s by Bede Aircraft. Few kits were completed after the company's bankruptcy in the mid 1970s due to the failure to deliver reliable engines.
The aircraft used a Microturbo TRS-18 turbojet engine that was manufactured in France and in the U.S. under license from Microturbo. The BD-5J holds the Guinness world record for smallest jet propelled aircraft.
Specifications
Primary Function: Crew:
Engine/Thrust:
Weight Empty:
Max. Weight:
Fuel Capacity:
Height:
Length:
Wingspan:
Stall Speed:
Cruise Speed:
Max Speed:
Climb Rate:
Takeoff Distance:
Landing Distance:
Ceiling:
Range:
Year Deployed:
recreation
one
1- 326 lbs.
432 lbs.
860 lbs.
36 gals.
5' 7"
12' 5"
17'
67 mph
240 mph
300 mph
2,400 fpm
1,800 feet
1,000 feet
26,000 feet
400 miles
1973
Radio Control Airplane
RC Airplane from Jet Mart USA.
Radio Control Airplanes:
Cermark has a BD-5 pusher prop RC Airplane. The radio control airplane has a wing span of 44" and a length of 30". Cermark tells us that their RC Airplane has a fiberglass fuselage and weighs 20 - 26 oz. depending on the battery used to power it. Recommended power for the radio control airplane is a CEM 2815-1420 brushless motor.
Pictured above is a nice BD5J RC Airplane from Jet Mart USA. At this time the radio control airplane specifications page of their web site is down.
YF RC Model has a BD-5 pusher prop RC Airplane. Their radio control airplane has a wing span of 43" and a length of 30". YF recommends a 380 type motor to power their RC Airplane.
Sean Cassidy, Champaign, IL sent in the three pictures below of his 1/2 scale BD-5J radio control airplane on its test flight. The RC Airplane has a wing span of 103" and a full flying stab. For power to his radio control airplane Sean uses a P-120 turbine producing 27 lbs. of thrust. All up weight of the RC Airplane is 45 lbs.
We had the opportunity to build and fly two BD-5J slope soaring RC Airplanes. One radio control airplane was by SR Hobbies. That RC Airplane performance was about average. The other radio control airplane was by MAD Aircraft design. That RC Airplane was one of the most fun to fly radio control airplanes we have ever had! Unfortunately, it appears that both companies are out of business.
We have seen postings about a BD-5J ducted fan RC Airplane on RC Universe, but there wasn't any manufacturer given.
Please email us if you know of any radio control airplane kit, ARF, or plans for the BD5J.
