Bede BD-2 Love One

Jerry Mullens, e-mail, 31.12.2014 19:57 Some of the information and comments on this web site are a little mixed up. Jim Bede decided it was about time somebody flew around the world non-stop, non-refueled. He then created a design that could. He had Dave Blanton modify the 2-32 to his specifications. The resulting plane was called BD-2 and Love 1, (Low Orbit Very Efficiently). During testing for an around the world flight in 1969 he flew 8,973 Miles in 70 hr 15 min setting a closed course distance record. Later due to legal problems the plane was put up for sale, and purchsed by Al Hundere. For several years it hung from the ceiling of a hangar in San Antonio. I purchased it in late 1980. During 1981, With the help of Blanton and many others, the plane was restored and modified in order to accomplish the globe circling flight that Jim Bede had designed the plane to do. I then flew the aircraft 10,070 miles (the FAI said 10,007, but they made a decimal error) and exceded the record that Bede had set. The take off run for that flight was close to 7,000 ft. After lift off the plane climbed like a homesick angel, with a climb rate approaching 1400 fpm with the gear still attached. The gear was then dropped on down wind before turning out of the pattern on the record flight. I had fuel on board for 12,000+ miles, but an autopilot problem caused me to cut the flight short at ~ 10,000. That was the longest distance solo non-refueled flight ever, and the absolute closed couse distance record in a piston engined airplane (class c-1, group 1). I'll post the actual specifications of the aircraft as it last flew in another comment. reply

Richard Weiland, e-mail, 25.02.2012 02:36 Re: Sam Johnson's comment. I believe that he was referring to the BD-3 of which I have seen only 1 picture and no other references. reply

Doenetz, 07.11.2010 20:25 2100 litres fuel = 1533 kg. Take-off weight 2400 kg, Empty weight 885 kg 2400 - 885 = 1515 Pilot = -18 kg :) reply

sam johnson, e-mail, 24.01.2010 23:50 I have come up with a demented rule that states that all record distance flights could have been done with half as much fuel. This certainly seems to be the case for the BD-2 flight, since he had plenty of fuel when it landed because of the lectric failure. reply

sam johnson, e-mail, 24.01.2010 23:28 thanks Jon. I wonder why Bede used a 200 hp engine if he only needed 30 hp for cruising and if he had 2 or 3 blade prop for this plane. reply

Jon Kunkel, e-mail, 05.12.2009 01:18 Sam Johnson, you are mixing up the XBD-2 with the BD-2. These are two completely different aircraft. reply

Sam Johnson, e-mail, 15.07.2009 05:52 The BD-2 love has a 3 bladed, ducted pusher propeller, very different from the illustration. This was the best design in the history of record setting planes, much better than Rutan´s Voyager of Global explorer. The flight was aborted by an electrical failure, with planty of fuel left. reply

ed.hart@comcast.net, 27.01.2007 04:27 I was living in Columbus at the time of the first flight. I remember seeing a scary film of the takeoff. I seem to recall a liftoff, a jarring settling, another lift and a quick jettison of the undercarriage that seemed to make the slight difference that allowed it to stay airborne. It looked like he was weaving through the trees as he departed the area. Has that film been preserved? reply