A Joy to Fly

The BD-18 has outstanding flying characteristics. A relatively high cruising speed is belied by a modest landing speed. New pilots and pros alike will enjoy its sweet and docile flying qualities.

The BD-18 incorporates the best design features and materials that Jim Bede has developed over the past thirty years of designing homebuilt aircraft. It can be built from scratch using plans incorporating a "fast-build" material kit. Dealer assistance is available to help you speed construction. This all-metal plane incorporates modern space-age materials and processes. The BD-18 is a solid, strong aircraft. Although much of this material is expensive, the end result will prove the BD-18 to be one of the strongest of all homebuilts.

The BD-18 has a number of excellent features:
• Large, roomy, wide cabin.
• All-metal construction.
• Large, roomy, wide cabin.
• A simple straight-forward design that can be built from plans or complete kit.
• Outstanding visibility.
• High cruising speeds.
• Exceptionally low maintenance.
• Can be built as tri-gear or tail-dragger.
• Can be built with extra-long-range fuel tanks.
• Excellent flying qualities with smooth, positive control response.
• Extra large space for baggage compartment.

Engine

The BD-18, is designed for several engine sizes, beginning with 80 hp. Obviously the smaller, lighter engines are the most economical to purchase and use less fuel. Performance is good, but larger engines will add power. The BD-18 with 180 hp is a real hotrod.

The plane was designed for engines such as the Jaburu 3300 with a fixed pitch propeller and larger Lycomings.

• The fuselage, a comfortable 47 inches wide, is constructed using slabs of all-metal half-inch thick honeycomb panels. Honeycomb is a sandwich of two sheets of aluminum bonded to a center core of vertically aligned honeycomb-like quarter-inch aluminum cells. The panels in tension have the strength of a .040 sheet, with a compression/torsion of 80% of the strength of a solid one-half inch plate, yet weighing only .75 pounds per square foot.
• The all-metal wings feature the famed Bede extruded tubular spar that can handle significant positive and negative G loads. Like the fuselage, the wing ribs are cut from honeycomb panels and arrive bonded to the center wing spar for your building ease.
• Flaps, ailerons, and rudder are sturdy self skinning foam, with molded-in torque-tubes.
• BD-18 kits are shipped with exterior fuselage panels bonded together at the correct angles. You add only the interior angle pieces, adding necessary strength.
• The main landing gear is a one-piece aluminum strut formed from 7075-T6, and it’s a cinch to install. The nosewheel is a simple, maintenance-free design that casters freely under a shock-absorbing donut.