Bede Aircraft
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1961 in Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Founder | Jim Bede |
| Successor | American Aviation Corporation (for BD-1 development into AA-1) |
| Headquarters | Cleveland , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jim Bede (founder) |
| Products | Kit aircraft, including BD-1, BD-5, BD-10, and others |
| Website | www |
Bede Aircraft Corporation was established in 1961 in Cleveland by aeronautical engineer Jim Bede with the goal of producing the BD-1 kit aircraft, which was later developed into the AA-1 under American Aviation Corporation. The firm is recognized for creating several innovative kit planes, including the Bede BD-5, featuring a pusher propeller design, and its turbojet variant, the BD-5J. The BD-5J held the Guinness World Record as the smallest jet-powered aircraft globally for more than a quarter-century. Its prominence was enhanced through appearances in Budweiser advertising campaigns—most famously the Bud Light Jet—and roles in two James Bond movies: Octopussy and a brief scene in Die Another Day.
Later, Bede introduced the Bede BD-10, equipped with a GE J-85 engine commonly used in Lear Jet business jets, marketed as the inaugural supersonic personal jet kit. Out of five units produced, three were lost in crashes, leaving only two grounded and non-operational. A notable accident involved a fatal vertical stabilizer failure during testing. Although it was promoted as capable of breaking the sound barrier, none achieved supersonic flight. The BD-10 was prominently featured on the cover of Aviation Week magazine in June 1994, accompanied by an extensive pilot evaluation.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bede BD-1 | 1963 | ||
| Bede BD-2 | 1967 | 1 | |
| Bede XBD-2 | 1961 | 1 | |
| Bede BD-3 | 1965 | ||
| Bede BD-4 | 1968 | ||
| Bede BD-5 | 1971 | ||
| Bede BD-6 | 1974 | ||
| Bede BD-7 | |||
| Bede BD-8 | 1980 | 1 | |
| Bede BD-10 | 1992 | 5 | |
| Bede BD-12 | 1 | ||
| Bede BD-14 | 1 | ||
| Bede BD-17 Nugget | 2001 | ||
| Bede BD-18 | |||
| Bede BD-22L | |||
| Bede Wing | Inflatable hang glider | ||
| Bede HB-1 Super Demoiselle | 1966 | 1 | Ultralight |