Bede Aircraft Corporation was founded by controversial aeronautical engineer Jim Bede in 1961 to produce the BD-1 kit aircraft, which eventually became the American Aviation Corporation's AA-1. The company also created and produced a number of advanced kit planes including the famous Bede BD-5 (pusher propeller driven) and BD-5J (turbojet driven). The BD-5J has held the Guinness record as the World's Smallest Jet Aircraft for more than a quarter century. Versions of it saw use in various Budweiser commercials (the Bud Light Jet, which was lost in an inflight fire and crash unrelated to airshow work). The tiny jet also appeared in two James Bond movies; Octopussy starring Sir Roger Moore, and later in a cameo appearance, hanging from the wall of Q's workshop in Die Another Day starring Pierce Brosnan as Agent 007. James R. Jim Bede is a controversial aircraft designer, who is often credited with the creation of the modern kitplane market. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1961: Events February February 3 - Operation Looking Glass commences, meaning that the US Air Force Strategic Air Command would have a permanent, airborne command post. ... Also known as amateur-built aircraft, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by one or more persons for whom this is not a professional activity. ... The Bede BD-5 is a small, single-seat homebuilt kit aircraft that was introduced in the early 1970s by Bede Aircraft Corp. ... A British WWI-era F.E.2b pusher. ... The Bede BD-5 is a small, single-seat homebuilt kit aircraft that was introduced in the early 1970s by Bede Aircraft Corp. ... Jet aircraft with condensation trail Jet aircraft are aircraft with jet engines. ... British Budweiser label showing the companys sponsorship of the 2006 FIFA World Cup The packaging plant at the Anheuser-Busch headquarters in St. ... 007 redirects here; for other uses, see 007 (disambiguation). ... Octopussy is the thirteenth James Bond film made by EON Productions. ... For other people named Roger Moore, see Roger Moore (disambiguation). ... Die Another Day is the twentieth James Bond film made by EON Productions and the fourth and final film to star Pierce Brosnan as Ian Flemings James Bond. ... Pierce Brendan Brosnan OBE[1] (born May 16, 1953) is an Irish actor and producer best known for portraying James Bond in four films: GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. ...

BD-10 Prototype at EAA Airventure airshow, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

A later design, the BD-10 powered by the same engine (GE J-85) used on Lear Jet business jets, claimed to be the first supersonic personal jet built from a kit. Three aircraft were built. The BD-10 prototype aircraft which flew over 200 hours at the Mojave Flight Test Center in California, and was flown by such notatbles as General "Chuck" Yeager, "Hoot" Gibson, Bob Hoover, John Travlota, Jerry Seinfeld, and Victor Belenko ("Mig Pilot" book fame) . The prototype BD 10 Jet still operates by a private owner today. The second aircraft was built at the Peregrine Aircraft Company in Minden Nevada. During a flight Test at Douglas County Airport, the aircraft far exceeded the maximum safe flight test speed, and broke up inflight, killing pilot Mike VanWagonen. It was estimated that this aircraft experienced catastrophic vertical stabilizer failure, due to the excess speed during the flight. The prototype is known to be flying today, and a second airworthy example has just been acquired by the Canadian Flying Machine Museum. None of them ever broke the sound barrier. This aircraft was featured on the cover of Aviation Week in June 1994, with a full pilots report. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x672, 192 KB) Bede BD-10 at Oshkosh Airventure airshow, image placed in public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x672, 192 KB) Bede BD-10 at Oshkosh Airventure airshow, image placed in public domain. ... C-GBFP - Adlair Aviation - Learjet 25 (LJ25) refueling at Cambridge Bay Airport, Nunavut, Canada. ... It has been suggested that hypersonic be merged into this article or section. ... The vertical stabilizer or fin of an aircraft is found on its tail, generally pointing straight upward. ... U.S. Navy F/A-18 at transonic speed. ...

Aircraft designs

• BD-1
• BD-4
• BD-5 & BD-5J
• BD-7
• BD-10
• BD-12
• BD-14
• BD-17
• BD-18

The BD-1 was the first design of American aeronautical engineer Jim Bede. ... The Bede BD-5 is a small, single-seat homebuilt kit aircraft that was introduced in the early 1970s by Bede Aircraft Corp. ...

External links

• "BedeCorp, LLC website." Accessed December 5, 2005.
• "Bede Aircraft Pictures." Accessed December 5, 2005.
• Bede XBD-2. 1000 Aircraft Photos.com. Retrieved on December 5, 2005.