Bede BD-12

BD-12
The BD-12 prototype
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Bede Aircraft
Designer Jim Bede
Status Production completed
Number built One
Unit cost
US$33,450 (1998)
Developed from Bede BD-5
Variants Bede BD-14

The Bede BD-12 is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Jim Bede and produced by Bede Aircraft of Medina, Ohio, introduced in the 1990s. The aircraft was intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction, but only one was ever built.[1][2]

Design and development

Designed as a scaled-up Bede BD-5, the BD-12 features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a gull-wing canopy, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from fibre-reinforced plastic composite materials. Its 23.0 ft (7.0 m) span wing, mounts flaps and has a wing area of 93.0 sq ft (8.64 m2). The standard engines used are the 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200A or the 150 hp (112 kW) Lycoming O-320 powerplant.[1]

The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 680 lb (310 kg) and a gross weight of 1,310 lb (590 kg), giving a useful load of 630 lb (290 kg). With full fuel of 37 U.S. gallons (140 L; 31 imp gal) the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is 408 lb (185 kg).[1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 150 hp (112 kW) engine is 725 ft (221 m) and the landing roll is 800 ft (244 m).[1]

The company that currently owns the rights to the design, BedeCorp, indicates that production was not started due to the cost of tooling and the lack of funds.[2]

The design was further developed into the Bede BD-14, a four-seat version.[1][2]

Operational history

In April 2015 no examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although one had been registered to the designer at one time.[3] It is likely that no examples exist any more.

Variants

BD-12B
Version with 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200A engine.[1]
BD-12C
Version with 150 hp (112 kW) Lycoming O-320 engine.[1]

Specifications (BD-12)

Data from AeroCrafter[1]

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 346. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bede Corp. "BD-12/14". Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  3. Federal Aviation Administration (15 April 2015). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 15 April 2015.

External links