Bede BD-6 (oz9952)

About this Plan

Bede BD6. Free flight sport model. Wingpan 36in. Wing area 143 sq in. for .020 power.

Quote: "HERE'S A NEW IDEA: A free flight scale 'trainer' for learning trimming techniques. Designed by Doc Mathews.

The BD-6 is not only a fun airplane in its full scale form, but its simple design is attractive to scale model builders who lean toward reliable and easily detailed models.

An outgrowth of the engineering and construction knowledge gained with the high wing BD-4, and the performance achievements of the famous BD-5, the full scale BD-6 blends the best of both in an attractive package for the home-builder. Likewise, its straight lines, tricycle gear, and bright color trim lines make it an attractive scale project for the beginning or advanced free flight scale builder.

The scale-proportioned model presented here was originally conceived as a study model to check construction features for a more elaborate contest version. However, the plane has proven so strong and stable that it has become an entity in itself, a model easy to trim and a pleasure to fly for fun. In fact, it can serve as a scale free flight 'trainer' prior to advancing to more complex and easily damaged ships.

How many times have you seen beautifully developed scale jobs fail to fly, or worse, crash on the first flight? The two principal problems usually are the builder's incomplete understanding of flight trim principles, and the accompanying lack of experience in actually flight trimming a scale model. How much better to build a quickie like the BD-6 to scale proportions, learn a few basic flight principles, and bounce the plane off the ground a few times in applying theory to practice.

If you have an interest in free flight scale, build something like this design, go out in the weeds, and keep flying it until you gain a certain knowledge of the effect of trim changes. Then and only then will you be ready to put innumerable hours into a more elaborate project.

Construction. A Jedelsky wing was chosen for its quick building features, appropriate for the BD-6. Select a piece of 3/16 x 2 in x 36 in C-grain balsa and..."

Bede BD6, MAN, November 1980.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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