Bede BD-3
Bede Corporation · United States · first flew 1965 · light aircraft
The Bede BD-3 was a prototype six-passenger homebuilt aircraft designed by Jim Bede in the United States. It was a low-wing design powered by two engines driving a single pusher propeller.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing homebuilt six-seat aircraft
- Two Lycoming IO-540 engines driving a single pusher propeller
- Three-bladed Hartzell propeller
A low-wing airframe with twin engines feeding a single three-bladed pusher propeller is distinctive.
Specifications
- The Bede BD-3 has a length of 9.35 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.71 m (38 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The BD-3 first flew in 1965. It used two 290 hp horizontally opposed Lycoming IO-540-B1A-5 piston engines.
Variants
The Bede XBD-2 was the flying prototype, powered by twin Continental O-300 engines. The BD-3 followed with two Lycoming IO-540 engines.
Where you'll see it
The BD-3 remained a prototype and did not enter production.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.