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There are certain phrases that will never cease to be alarming, and "kit-built DIY supersonic aircraft" ticks most of the requisite boxes.
Allow me to introduce you to the Bede BD10 - an aircraft that took a pretty stupid idea and then removed whatever common sense remained.
At one point it was designed with two control sticks, so that the pilot could switch to the longer one when control forces got too high.
At one point it was designed with two control sticks, so that the pilot could switch to the longer one when control forces got too high.
The calculated performance was certainly eye-opening. Fully laden it was expected to climb at 20,000 feet per minute, cruise at Mach 0.9, and if anyone was stupid enough to open the throttles happily top Mach 1.4.
That's faster than the F-100 Super Sabre.
Built in a garage.
That's faster than the F-100 Super Sabre.
Built in a garage.
When the calculations were put to the test in the real world, however, things did not work out as advertised.
The fastest speed attained was barely transonic - around Mach 0.83 - meaning (in my basic terms) the plane was basically only just starting to fight its own noise.
Anyone who has tried playing guitar in a teenage band will appreciate how upsetting this is.
Anyone who has tried playing guitar in a teenage band will appreciate how upsetting this is.
The other thing that failed to perform as calculated were the tail fins, which had a disturbing tendency to fall off.
The performance may have been eye-popping. It was certainly sphincter rupturing.
The performance may have been eye-popping. It was certainly sphincter rupturing.
All in all, just five were built.
Three of them crashed and killed their pilots. One bent its tailplane out of shape so badly it never flew again. It's rumoured the final survivor never even had fuel put into it.
The vulnerable Bede was grounded permanently.
Three of them crashed and killed their pilots. One bent its tailplane out of shape so badly it never flew again. It's rumoured the final survivor never even had fuel put into it.
The vulnerable Bede was grounded permanently.
But don't worry!
Its little brother, the BD5, is still happily whining about the skies - albeit at a far more sensible speed.
And looking utterly ridiculous.
Its little brother, the BD5, is still happily whining about the skies - albeit at a far more sensible speed.
And looking utterly ridiculous.
OH MY DAYS THE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO IS AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE!!!
(caution - the 90's video editing is almost as disastrous as the product it's selling) https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=90&v=v2DFJGUKfaI&feature=emb_logo
(caution - the 90's video editing is almost as disastrous as the product it's selling) https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=90&v=v2DFJGUKfaI&feature=emb_logo
"In the words of Bede's chief test pilot... a pilot can do a lot of stupid things close to the ground in this airplane..."
Yeah. Like climb into one.
Yeah. Like climb into one.
"The BD-10 can be equipped with minimal communication systems..."
Presumably so nobody hears you scream. All in all, my thoughts remain exactly as they were when I first heard about this thing...
Presumably so nobody hears you scream. All in all, my thoughts remain exactly as they were when I first heard about this thing...
