BD-6 (oz6508)

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BD-6 (oz6508) by Fred Reese 1975 - plan thumbnail

About this Plan

Bede BD-6. Radio control sport scale model. Scanning by Don at EAC, cleanup by theshadow.

Quote: "BD-6. A semi-scale RC basic trainer with hands off stability for the beginner in RC or the sport flyer who prefers a docile easy to fly airplane. By Fred Reese.

Jim Bede combined the technology gained from previous aircraft development programs of the BD-4, BD-5, and the BD-5J to offer the homebuilder a safe, quality aircraft at an absolute minimum price. All surfaces are aluminum and the fuselage uses the same bolt-together construction as the BD-4. The BD-6 is a single seat design that will cruise at 140 mph and give 40 mpg economy. The two-cycle, two cylinder, 650cc Hirth engine has 55 horsepower. Best of all, the complete homebuilt airplane kit, including the engine, is only $22.00. According to Jim Bede, " . . . the BD-6 fills a very special need for the first-time homebuilder. It's simplicity of construction enables him to gain valuable basic home building knowledge and experience before tackling the more complex airplanes."

Similarly, I developed the BD-6 as an RC trainer using simple, proven construction techniques that will give a first time flyer an opportunity to gain valuable flying experience. The BD-6 model is a second generation semi-scale trainer design, as I too used concepts developed from a similar BD-4 design. The design is first, and foremost, a basic trainer with complete hands-off stability and very gentle handling characteristics. The BD-6 also makes a nice Sunday sport machine for those who like a docile airplane. It can do loops and barrel rolls and other aerobatics not requiring brute power. The BD-6 would be an ideal way of entering sport-scale competition as the model virtually flys itself.

The design concept was to produce an easy-to-build airplane that looks real, and a pilot, with no previous flying experience, could learn to fly without the expert assistance. Many of us learned to fly this way but aircraft design and radio unreliability caused more crashes than can be expected now. Naturally, I recommend getting an experienced pilot to mist a new flyer and feel that all steps should be taken by a novice to locate such a teacher. It is only if no assistance is available that this type of design is invaluable.

You will need three types of adhesive for construction. Contact cement is used for joining doublers or other strips to large flat areas. Epoxy is used only for high stress areas such as the firewall, landing gear mount, joining the wing panels and attaching the tail surfaces. White glue such as Wilhold or Titebond is used for the remainder of general construction.

Begin the fuselage construction by bolting the engine mount and the nosegear unit to the firewall and drill holes for the throttle and nosegear steering pushrods through the firewall with a 1/8 drill bit. Cut out the other bulkhead, fuselage sides and plywood par.. Sig Lite Ply was used on the original for the front top and bottom parts, but any other 1/8 plywood will work as well. Contact cement the nose doubler to the fuselage sides and this continue contact cementing the various diagonal and vertical fuselage reinforcement strips to the sides.

Epoxy the firewall and bulkhead to one of the sides taking care that they are square to the sides and then add the other fuselage side. Glue or epoxy on the plywood top front and cabin bottom pieces and the remainder of the cowl pieces. Pull the tail together and glue..."

Update 26/06/2016: article pages, text & pics added, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text & pics.

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BD-6 (oz6508) by Fred Reese 1975 - model pic

Datafile:

ScaleType:
  • Bede_BD-6 | help
    see Wikipedia | search Outerzone
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    ScaleType: This (oz6508) is a scale plan. Where possible we link scale plans to Wikipedia, using a text string called ScaleType.

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    ScaleType is formed from the last part of the Wikipedia page address, which here is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bede_BD-6
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BD-6 (oz6508) by Fred Reese 1975 - pic 003.jpg
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BD-6 (oz6508) by Fred Reese 1975 - pic 004.jpg
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BD-6 (oz6508) by Fred Reese 1975 - pic 005.jpg
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BD-6 (oz6508) by Fred Reese 1975 - pic 006.jpg
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User comments

Hi Steve, thought you might like to use these pics for the BD6 file [model photo & more pics 003, 004]. I built it this year from the RCM plan as an electric version. I have built it as a 4ch version with about 1" dihedral and moved the CG back about 1/2" as it flew like a brick at the recommended CG (can probably go back more yet). A bit sluggish on the std aileron length so would double that or make them full length (or double the length and add flaps or flaperons to improve landings). Have made the nose wheel strut more scale (has its own sevo) but this can make take-offs a bit tricky if you spend too long on the ground, as it can get a direction 'set' on, requiring a re-start. Get off the ground quick enough and you're ok. Apart from this it flies quite scale like, is reasonably docile and can be floated in at a nice landing speed. Turns need quite a bit of aileron to get it over on its side ( tends to 'surf' on the big fuselage sides), rudder would probably help as well (still experimenting). Needs bigger wheels for rough ground but is a bit 'tippy' due to the small triangle footprint. U/C could be a lot wider and lower and main gear further back, if you didn't mind a non scale look. Thanks for the great work on the site, it's great to find the old plans still around. Might encourage a few people to get away from refrigerator material and try a 'real' model instead of adding to the infestation of Trojans etc. Small corner photo credited to Bedecorp.
JohnBullivant - 23/10/2015
Everything John Bullivant stated on 10/23/2015 is correct. Fred Reese was a member of the Sierra Foothills R/C Flyers in the 1990s and we spoke of this plan at a Club meeting one month. Besides helping me to learn to fly, he was an absolutely nice man. He begged me not to fly the plane based on the plan as the CG was incorrect. Please take John Bullivant's comments to heart. He is right on all counts!
DaveStroble - 19/12/2017
Although I don't have it straight from Fred's own mouth, I agree that the center of gravity shown on the plan isn't even close to where it should be. I've built the BD-6 on two occasions, both with the OS 20 FP for power and full length ailerons. Put the CG at the rear edge of the spar (30%) and you will be rewarded with a superb flier. Aileron performance is a bit slow but no worse than a standard trainer. However, the BD-6 is a better aerobatic plane than a normal trainer because of the short tail. It will do all kinds of crazy things in the air, but it is very easy to fly and land. When I built my first one I was pleasantly surprised when somebody recognized the design at the flying field.
RobReynolds - 22/12/2017
I have now programmed in a few degrees of rudder to match aileron direction (ie- left aileron , left rudder and vice versa,) which is opposite to what you would normally expect. This seems to have solved the side 'surfing' problem on turns to a reasonable degree and it turns a bit better. I think strip ailerons would be much better than the ones shown in the plan, as these cause the plane to want to nose up on a turn due to drag and the small tail moment, (plus surfing).
Differential might fix this but I wouldn't bother wasting time with these. If I was to try another wing, it would be flat (maybe 2deg dihedral) with 1" strip ailerons, with flapperons programmed in, and servos in the wings (not a single servo with bellcranks ).
John Bullivant - 02/06/2020
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