One of the great things about the BD4 is the never exceed speed of
234 MPH. This means you can use a 350 HP turbo 2 rotor and cruise at
200 MPH. That is far far better than a $750.000 brand new Cessna
182. You can probably get 90 gallons of fuel in it as well. Vans
airplanes have a never exceed speed of only 200 MPH. If you install
breathing oxygen you can do it at 18,000 feet as well with out going
IFR.
The BD4 is a high performance four place kit aircraft and as such is
a real bargain. Easy to build as well.
Paul Lamar
ZU - MBD take 210 Liters of fuel or 55, 4 us gallon The aluminum
metal skin is epoxying to the ribs with no rivets, sleek and low
friction laminar flow wing. Only the control surfaces have cherry
nut rivets. The endurance time with a 2 rotor "will bead your
bladders endurance in cruise configuration"!
Le Roux Breytenbach
Install a relief tube :-)
I was thinking more of Oz where it is 3000 miles coast to coast.
When you put the skin on the wings how do you keep it down while the
epoxy cures?
Paul Lamar
The wing was imported from Bede corp completed.Think they epoxy the
rib flanges and then press the skin that is pre bended at the
leading edge in a jig.The wing hang on the spar horizontal with the
rib flanges upwards 90 degree's This process is done in a pre heated
room so that after curing of the epoxy the skin is very stiff and do
not tin can in the sun.
Le Roux Breytenbach
What was the cost of the wing?
Paul Lamar
It was $10 000 US in 2010 but a friend is building one now in Namibie
and there was not a much increase in price
Le Roux Breytenbach
With a Mazda turbo rotary and a 1000 pounds of payload it makes it
one of the worlds best if not the best buy in light cargo aircraft.
Ideal for the Australian Out Back. Some times it take day's to get
places on dirt roads.
I have never been to Africa so I don't know about that.
A good biz in Oz is an experienced person that help's people
complete their experimental aircraft. That is what happed on our time
to climb aircraft project. I worked for them. They have done several
projects for over seas customers. In the case of Oz probably the
labor rates in the US are cheaper.
http://aviationfx.net/
Paul Lamar
The Bede Corp has a website with information and current pricing on
the kit and sub assembly kits.
The famous BD-4 Kit Plane Bedecorp
http://www.bedecorp.com/bd-4c.html
<
http://www.bedecorp.com/bd-4c.html
Alan Mullen Colorado
Paul,
You mentioned the BD-4 VNE is 235. MPH or knots? I ask as the RV10
listed VNE is also 230 MPH or 200 knots.
Bill Jepson
Its in MPH on the BD4. I did not know that about the RV10. Van raised
it on the RV10. I was talking about the RV4 and RV6. Maybe it is
higher on the RV8 as well.
The BD4 is a clean airplane so that becomes very important under IFR
conditions. You can point the nose straight down on a C182 and never
exceed VNE :-)
I suspect a high wing is lower drag than a low wing as the low
pressure on top of the wing would affect the fuselage on a low wing
airplane. The Lancair is a good example. It needs a bulge on the
fuse in the region of the trailing edge.
Paul Lamar
The fuselage on the BD contributes 13% to the total lift on the plane,
you will see it is a big airfoil in shape.Maybe not so modern looking
but fly's like a dream.
It is very light on the control stick with very little inputs.
Sometimes on finals you have to side slip it to bleed off speed on
shorter runways.When the wing gets in ground effect it seems that the Bd
wants to glide forever.
Wonder if a type of flap air brake between the gear legs will work on
the tail dragger.Maybe a cg hazard don't know as i am not a expert on it.
The BD on the Bedec orp website is the one we have build.
Le Roux Breytenbach
I like to side slip on all my C182 landings. Actually it is an easier
way to land as you always
get to the same height above the threshold. Then it is just a matter slowing
it down. The fowler flaps on the C182 help in that regard. If the BD4 is
still
going too fast pick a point further down wind from the threshold. That
will give you more time to adjust the pitch for the proper touch down speed.
Here is some CG stuff for Mark Dillner in case he does not have the plans.
If the wing tanks are leaking and you don't need the back seat it
is a good place for an aux tank.
I would like to go flying in a BD4 some time. Never been to
Africa. I might show up sometime :-)
Paul Lamar
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