BD-4B Specifications


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Drawings:Click Image for Larger copy



BD-4B Selected Dimensions and Capacities:
Wing Span: 25.58 feet
Folded Wingspan: 7 feet
Height (tricycle gear): 7.23 feet
Length: 21.38 feet
Landing Gear: Fixed tricycle or tailwheel configuration. Wheel pants are available.
Cabin Width: 42 inches
Cabin Length: 89 inches
Fuel Capacity: 51 to 80 gallons
Ultimate G Load Limits*: BD-4B @ 2000 Lb. gross: Positive - 6.3 G, Negative - 6.3 G.
BD-4B @ 1400 Lbs. gross: Positive - 9 G, Negative - 9 G.
*The BD-4B, as a 4-place 2000-Lb. gross airplane, currently exceeds the required standards for the "Normal" FAA certification category. As a 2-place plane, it exceeds the required standards for the "Aerobatic" category. However, this design is not certified, and is intended only for construction and operation as an amateur-built aircraft.
Performance Specifications:
  150 HP 180 HP 200 HP
Max Gross Weight: 2000 lbs 2400 lbs 2400 lbs
Empty Weight: 990 lbs 1250 lbs 1250 lbs
Useful Load: 1010 lbs 1150 lbs 1150 lbs
Wing Loading: 19.20 lbs/sq ft 23.53 lbs/sq ft 23.53 lbs/sq ft
Power Loading 12.00 lbs/hp 13.33 lbs/hp 12.00 lbs/hp
Cruise Speed - 75% power: 172 mph 192 mph 198 mph
Cruise Speed - 65% power: 165 mph 174 mph 180 mph
Stall Speed - flaps down: 52 mph 55 mph 55 mph
Stall Speed - flaps up: 58 mph 61 mph 61 mph
Rate of Climb - maximum: 1250 fpm 1400 fpm 1700 fpm
Take Off Run: 650 ft 600 ft 600 ft
Take off Run over 50' Obstacle: 1100 ft 1000 ft 1000 ft
Landing roll: 600 ft 600 ft 600 ft
Maximum Range: 900 miles 900 miles 900 miles

Recommended Airspeed Limitations @ 2000 gross pounds:
  • Never Exceed Speed: 234 MPH.
  • Maximum Rough Air Speed: 179 MPH.
  • Maximum Speed @ 10º flaps: 130 MPH.
  • Maximum Speed @ 20-30º flaps: 133 MPH.
Take a BD-4B Engineering Walk-Around:
    WINGS
  • Second generation Jim Bede-designed all-metal "wet" cantilever high wing design with a 64-415 modified airfoil.
  • The bonded wing skin is rivet-free except for the trailing edge spar. Ribs are one-half inch aluminum honeycomb.
  • Ten, 20, and 30-degree flap deflection.
  • Flaps and ailerons, designed to be interchangeable, are torque-tube controlled. Rugged ready-to-mount 6.5-inch O.D. tubular main wing spars of 6061-T6 aluminum are sleeved for fast assembly to fuselage spar (click below for enlarged image). Three-piece spar assembles quickly, is light and strong and permits foldable wing option.
    FUSELAGE
  • All-metal internally stressed design.
  • Designed for home shop construction. No welding, no complicated jigs.
  • Gusseted and bolted aluminum frame angles form "erector set" safety cage.
  • Sleek bonded .016 and .020 aluminum skin, blind-riveted load-carrying components.
  • Cockpit can be upholstered and trimmed to production aircraft standards.
  • Spacious instrument panel accommodates IFR components.
    EMPENNAGE:
  • Horizontal stabilator all-flying design with 2.5-inch OD 2024-T3 center spar.
  • 63 009 airfoil. 36-inch chord, 88-inch span.
  • Strong, light aluminum honeycomb ribs.
  • Fin, rudder and stabilator are bonded to ribs; load-carrying components are blind-riveted
    LANDING GEAR
    The BD-4B can be built in either tricycle gear or tail-wheel configuration. New landing gear strut design for main gear and nose wheel absorbs high loads, assuring smooth operation during rough-field takeoffs and landings.
    ENGINE
  • Any 108 to 200 HP Lycoming four-cylinder engine can be used to power the BD-4B. Four-place operation requires 150 HP or higher. There are no other structural differences between the 2- and 4-place models. When it's time to add that back seat for a growing family, conversion to a larger power plant is easy.
  • Clam-shell cowling design permits direct access to all powerplant components.
    FUEL
    Standard fuel capacity is 48 gallons, using wing tanks in six between-the-ribs wing bays. However, it is possible to expand fuel capacity using as many as ten bays in 150-HP and-up configurations, giving the plane a nine-hour cruising range with a restricted cabin weight envelope.
ORDER THE PLANS FOR THE BD-4B Complete plans, available on this website for $220 plus postage, include a complete bill of materials, (also available on this website, see below) and list the number and dimension of each part. Bede building plans are famous for providing absolutely clear and accurate information. Both engineering and assembly drawings are included in your package. Illustrations are sharp and precise. Most sheet metal parts and all difficult-to-form items are shown full size.

Templates may be cut directly from the plans and used as direct patterns. All necessary dimensions, tolerances, numbers and grades of material are given, and options such as the folding-wing assembly are fully drawn and illustrated.

WHERE CAN I GET PARTS AND MATERIALS TO BUILD MY BD-4B?
All parts and materials are off-the-shelf, and many items, such as the new all-metal wing, are available directly from BedeCorp, shipped FOB Medina, OH, USA.

Parts can also be purchased through aviation suppliers or subcontractors. All standard aircraft components, such as wheels, brakes and instruments can be purchased from OEM suppliers. Fasteners and hardware are specified aircraft quality, and can be obtained from aviation supply houses.

  • To order plans, kits or parts from this site for this and other available Bede designs, click on "Order Online" at the top of any BedeCorp page with a blue page-top menu

Order BD-4 Materials:
BedeCorp, LLC is limiting the materials we will offer for sale to items we have in stock or can obtain within two weeks. Most of these are specialty items like wing spars and honeycomb ribs. You will find below a complete Bill of Materials for the BD-4. The prices for items we do have are listed and are FOB, Medina, Ohio. If there is something in the Bill of Materials we do not have for sale and you cannot obtain locally, please advise us and we will quote you a price and a delivery date.