The Bede BD-8 was an aerobatics aircraft developed in the United States in the mid-1970s. It was a low-wing, single-seat monoplane of conventional configuration, albeit very short-coupled, and of all-metal construction. The single prototype was under construction by Jim Bede when his company, Bede Aircraft, faced bankruptcy in 1977. The incomplete BD-8 was purchased by Mike Huffman, who completed its construction in 1980. It first flew on May 14, 1980.^[1]

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Length: 17 ft 5 in (5.31 m)
• Wingspan: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
• Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
• Wing area: 97.0 sq ft (9.01 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 3.9:1
• Empty weight: 975 lb (442 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,510 lb (685 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-360-A1A air-cooled flat-four , 200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 215 mph (346 km/h, 187 kn)
• Cruise speed: 190 mph (306 km/h, 170 kn)
• Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10.2 m/s)