Bede Aircraft - Definition and Overview

Founded by aviation rebel Jim Bede in 1961, Bede Aircraft created and produced a number of advanced kit planes including the famous Bede BD-5 (pusher propeller driven) and BD-5J (micro jet driven). The BD-5J is still the world's smallest jet aircraft. Versions of it saw use in various Budweiser commercials (the BudLight Jet) and a James Bond movie.

A later design, the twin-jet BD-10, claimed to be the first supersonic personal jet. Only a few were built, some met with catastrophic (fatal) vertical stabilizer failure, only one is know to be flying today, and none of them ever broke the sound barrier.

External links:

• http://www.bd5.com/bd01001.htm
• http://lsss2.homestead.com/BD5J.html
• http://www.1000aircraftphotos.com/HistoryBriefs/BedeXBD2.htm
• http://www.jimbede.com/