The BD-4B is a kit-built high-wing 2- or 4-place all metal cruiser that the builder can configure for either tricycle or tailwheel landing gear. It is docile at low speeds with excellent handling, and was designed for very low operating expenses. The 2-place, 1550 lb. gross weight BD-4B is stressed for 9 Gs positive and negative. Designed for a range of reliable Lycoming aircraft engines, it is an ideal first-time project for the novice plane builder, using readily available shop tools in your chosen location.

Specially designed parts and plans are available from BedeCorp, or some parts and materials may be purchased out of stock from aviation suppliers. Specified materials are stock items and sizes widely available in the US and Canada, and many other countries.

ENGINEERED TO FAR-CERTIFIED STANDARDS, HOMEBUILT NEEDS
Design parameters were to build the safest aircraft possible using the most economical and easy-to-work aviation-grade materials. Specially designed parts are limited, including the aluminum honeycomb-construction ribs and the tubular spar for the new all-metal wings.

Although the BD-4B meets or exceeds the structural requirements for certified aircraft as specified in FAR - Part 23, it is not certified, and is intended for construction and operation only as an amateur-built airplane.

A REFINED, WELL-TESTED AND EXTENSIVELY FLOWN DESIGN
The BD-4 was first introduced in 1968. Thirty-eight years of improvement and innovation have made it among the most dependable of homebuilt aircraft in America.

The BD-4B is the culmination of design know-how from the drawing board of Jim Bede, one of the nation's foremost aviation designers. Here are some of the reasons you should make the BD-4B your first choice in a home-built aircraft.

THE WING - A LITTLE BIT OF HONEY
Forget rivets. The all-metal wings of the BD-4B are tough and smooth. 0.50 inch metal honeycomb panels are used to fabricate the ribs, which are bonded to the famous Bede tubular spar with the same adhesive used in US military fighters, and then the metal skin is bonded to the edges of the ribs and rear spar. This design results in a "wet" wing, with far lower drag than the original. The new wing is available in kit form from BedeCorp, or you can build it yourself with detailed instructions.

FRAME - DON'T WELD, BOLT
The BD-4B has a bolt-together frame. This drastically cuts the need for welding, although some aircraft parts still require the services of a skilled welder. Machine shop operations have been cut to a minimum.

HOW LONG TO BUILD
Experience shows that a single builder with minimum experience can build a BD4B in a range of just over 900 to 1500 man-hours. Figure one to three years of spare-time labor - At the max, about the amount of time you would spend in restoring a vintage '62 Mustang. Our suggestion: Team up with several friends to build a BD-4B you can all fly.

WHERE DO I BUILD IT?
Consider your garage, basement, barn or living room. One builder even finished the job in a tent. Minimum space requirements: 30 X 12 feet, with electrical power.

BD 4 KIT INVENTORY
BedeCorp LLC is constantly building up its inventory of BD 4B and BD 4C parts. The photos illustrate the BD 4 wing spars made of 6061 T6. we also have center section spars for both the BD 4B and BD 4C. All of the fuselage gussets are laser cut with pilot holes. At the present time we have complete inventory for a BD 4, fuselage kits, wing kits and control system. For the remaining packages we have a lot of the items in stock, but not necessarily complete kits.

WHO CAN BUILD A BD?
Almost anyone can build the BD-4B, including Scout Explorer groups, bowling teams, men and women who love to putter with tools, or your own Bede flying club - put an ad in your local paper and invite others to build with you. You will be surprised at the number of people who call, eager to help.

Here are the basic tools you will need. You probably own most of them:

• Hacksaw
• Center Punch
• Medium weight (8-12-0z. ball peen hammer
• Small set socket wrenches, and open and box wrenches up to 5/8"
• ¼-inch electric drill with full sets of bits, plus a No. 30 bit
• Three flat blade and three Phillips screwdrivers in standard sizes
• Six 4-inch C-clamps
• 1032-100 countersink bit
• No. 12 reamer
• Flat medium and flat fine files
• Diagonal-cutting or lineman's pliers
• Machinist's bench vise (31/2" to 41/2" jaw size)
• Blind rivet gun
• Tubing cutter with ½" capacity
• Tubing flaring tool
• External-spring tubing cutter (3/8" capacity)
• 50 5/32" Cleco sheet metal clamps for fuselage, 25 No. 40 Cleco clamps for aileron trailing edges and flaps and one set of Cleco pliers.
• 1/16 and 1/8 inch NICO press sleeve squeeze tool (for trim and control cables) or "swage-it" tool available from BedeCorp
• Champ tool (squeeze pliers for electrical system wiring clamp-on lugs
• One cylindrical and one tree-radius rotary cutter
• Duckbill or combination tin snips
• Workbench or table
• Access to a machine shop.

LEARN MORE
To learn more about the BD-4B, click on "Features" and "Specifications" at top left of this page. To order plans or parts from this site for this or other available Bede designs, click on "Order Online" at the top of any BedeCorp page with a blue page-top banner.