Mystery Aircraft Quiz #17

[Pilawt]

It is 1964. You receive a brochure for a new, soon-to-be-certified, factory-built airplane. It is offered with 65, 90 or 108 hp; and with stick or wheel controls. On 108 hp its "max. recommended cruise 65%" is 145 mph; service ceiling is 18,000 feet; rate of climb at sea level is 1150 fpm, takeoff ground run is 600 feet, landing ground roll is 400 feet. It is stressed for 9.2 g's positive and negative. The brochure lists these "major features":

-- All metal
-- Fully Acrobatic
-- Removable wings for towing
-- Honeycomb construction
-- Interchangeable parts
-- Fiberglass landing gear
​

You breathlessly sign the order form and send your check. You have just bought the Brooklyn Bridge and a delivery position for the __________________.

-- Pilawt

 

[Greg Bockelman]

Well, it smacks of a Bede BD-1 that ended up as a Grumman American AA-1 of various models and names. However, everything I see says the engine was the Lycombing O-235 of 108 HP.

 

[Pilawt]

Well, it smacks of a Bede BD-1 that ended up as a Grumman American AA-1 of various models and names. However, everything I see says the engine was the Lycombing O-235 of 108 HP.

It is the BD-1. "Standard" engine was a remanufactured 65-hp Continental; "optional" engines were a remanufactured Continental C90, or new Continental A65, C90, O-200-A (100 hp) or Lycoming O-235-C1 (108 hp).

Base price in 1964 was $2,500.00.

It took several years, lots of money, and the departure of Jim Bede from the operation, to turn what was an innovative and promising (but not miraculous as promoted by Bede) design into the successful AA-1 series, and in turn into the Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger.

When the American Aviation AA-1 Yankee came out in 1968, it had a 108-hp Lycoming engine, longer, non-removable wings, was not aerobatic, cruised at about 130-135 mph, and sold for $6,495.00.

-- Pilawt

 

[Greg Bockelman]

You notice that the same people are answering these questions>

 

[Pilawt]

You notice that the same people are answering these questions>

It's only us old-timers that remember these airplanes!

 

[Missa]

You notice that the same people are answering these questions>

But there are seveal of us reading and soaking in all this neat new knowlage....

Missa

 

[Henning]

You notice that the same people are answering these questions>

More importantly, can anyone recognize what happens when Jim Bede is involved in a project?