BA-4B
Bede Aircraft · United States · first flew 1966 · light aircraft
The BA-4B was a tiny single-seat American homebuilt monoplane designed by Jim Bede in the 1960s, intended for construction from plans by amateur builders seeking a simple, fast aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 4.67 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat aerobatic homebuilt biplane with constant-chord cantilever wings
- No interplane bracing wires — clean strutless biplane cellule
- Mid-1960s American kit-built design
An extremely compact low-wing monoplane — shorter than many motorcycles — with a bubble or open cockpit, fixed undercarriage, and a tiny but sleek fuselage profile.
Specifications
- The BA-4B has a length of 4.67 m (15 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 5.64 m (19 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 241 km/h (150 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Jim Bede, later famous for the BD-5 Micro, developed several designs in the 1960s including the BA-4B, which targeted builders wanting a minimalist, high-performance single-seater.
Variants
The design was sold as plans; individual builders varied the engine and equipment fit.
Where you'll see it
The BA-4B was operated exclusively by private homebuilders; no military or commercial application is recorded.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.