Starr Bumble Bee II
Robert H. Starr · United States · first flew 1988 · light aircraft
The Starr Bumble Bee II is an experimental aircraft designed and built specifically to acquire the title of the world’s smallest airplane.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 2.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tiny biplane only 2.7 m long
- Wingspan of just 1.68 m
- T-tail
A tiny single-seat biplane 2.7 m long with a 1.68 m span, negative stagger and cantilevered wings.
Specifications
- The Starr Bumble Bee II has a length of 2.7 m (9 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 1.68 m (6 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 305 km/h (190 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It first flew on 2 April 1988 and was developed from the Starr Bumble Bee I, powered by a Continental C85 four-cylinder engine.
Variants
Only one Bumble Bee II was built.
Where you'll see it
It crashed and was destroyed on its third flight on 5 May 1988 after an engine failure at 400 feet, severely injuring its designer Robert Starr, who made a full recovery.
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