UK Bede BD-5 projects.

Many moons ago (33 years…!) my father and I were involved with the Air Scouts at Halfpenny Green. We used to go to the airfield every Monday night to work on the restoration of the Slingsby Tutor they owned, as well as Anson VM325 and Proctor G-AOBI (Thats another story…)

One night the airfield was plunged into darkness – a fuse had blown in a substation, and in the process of wandering around with torches we became aware of someone else doing the same… as far as WE knew, the airfield was deserted.

Once the lights were back on we were invited to the hut where this chap was assembling his BD5 kit! I can’t remember his name or the reg of the 5, but I do remember the build was appalling, where panels hadn’t fitted properly, copious amounts of filler were being applied.

I do remember that his chap worked shifts on the North sea oil rigs, and when off duty simply lived in the hut for a couple of weeks, working on the kit 12 hours a day.

What happened after that I don’t know, I never saw it again…

At this time, a company called Brockmoor Bede was formed who were the UK importers. Brockmoors are a foundry company, and I believe a director of the company set up the dealership as a sideline.

I still have the brochures I sent for at the time…

Ironically 35 years later, I drive past Brockmoors on my way to work every morning…!

I’ll get my coat…

Nige

Does anyone have a 3 view or scale drawings of this lovely little aeroplane?

Old Buckenham Bede?

Hi

Pim, thanks for the lead, but I can not find a match with any airframe on my database, sorry, but I would be interested to see a photo of your aircraft and to learn more about it, PM me, please.

Moggy C, thanks for the lead, which leads me to my next question.

Does anyone have a photo or any information on the Old Buckenham Bede?

Thanks also to all who have helped with this thread so far.

Pim, that name is not typically British, but typically American.

First name and then initial is common in the US (George double yu Bush…)

Hope that last bit isn’t over your head, but I know that Dutch people speak excellent English!

Bri 😉

There is an incomplete one hanging on the back wall of a hangar at Old Buckenham aerodrome.

Moggy

Where are they now? Maybe one in the Netherlands…

Hi Ritch & Max,

I am the owner of a Bede 5 kit ( B wings ) in the Netherlands.
I am certainly not the first owner , for sure is that I am at least
the third owner. I bought my kit in Belgium, partly built and ofcourse not complete.
I believe ( but are not certain ) that the kit came from the UK. From the original papers I have from the kit the first owners name emerged as :
Deane B. Fenton with a postal adress of ESSO refinery in Antwerp Belgium.
This name sounds very Britisch and certainly not from Belgium ! further to use your company name as postal adress sounds to me like someone working abroad.

Also for me it would be nice to know a little bit more of the origin of my BD5.

Greetings,
Pim
the Netherlands

Where are they now?

Other information that has come my way via Chumpy (original source, no less than good old uncle Ken and one of his wonderfull books) see this thread 10th Nov, lists this aircraft as under construction by GA Ball in Chetwood, later sold incomplete to J.P. Turner of Ascot.
I have now identified 30 kits imported to the UK, one presumably complete airframe imported from Germany, and one US registered example imported as a complete airframe, so 32 in total (so far).
The big question is, where are they all now? I know two went onto the Irish register, two or three were exported to the USA and one to Austria, we have one and the Science Museum has another, come on guys there must be others out there someware, check your garages and garden sheds!

G-BALL

Dear Ritch
G-INFO gives G-BALL as registered from 1973 to 1985, manfactured by GA Ball, and registered to John Percy Turner of Ascot. How did you find Chetwood? Gary lived just off base at Upper Heyford.
The next thing is that I shall try to find him again. I have his first US address, but whether I can follow on from there ……

G-BALL

Hi “I GAREY”
My reaserch so far has indeed come up with a BD-5 registered as G-BALL, However I have it shown as being registered to a G.A. Ball of Chetwood, then sold incomplete to a J.P. Turner of Ascot.
Maybe your friend did register the kit, and sold iton before going back to the USA? The plot thickens!
Thanks for the information, it all helps to put together the jigsaw.
Best wishes,
Ritch Blood.

G-BALL

Not very helpful perhaps, but one more for the list. In 1971 I did an FAA instrument rating with a friend who was an F111 pilot at Upper Heyford, as well as being an FAA IR instructor. He planned to build a BD5 at Heyford. I suggested he register it as G-BALL (his name was Gary Ball!). I think he did register it, but I do not even know whether he obtained the kit before he went back stateside, and I have lost contact with him. Maybe it finished up in the hands of someone who completed the job. Any clues?

PS: Just looked on
http://www.airport-data.com/search/search2.html?field=model&search=Search&code=Bede+BD+4
and it is there. cn is 206.
And it is on
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&aircrafttype

Thanks Chumpy.

Hi Chumpy
PM sent. thanks.
And many t hanks to the others who have replied, as always,it is much appriciated.
Ritch

Hi Ritch & Max,
The excellent book British Homebuilt Aircraft since 1920 by F.P. editor Ken Ellis lists some 27 BD5 examples, both G- registered and PFA projects. Giving owners, location and a lot of other detail on the breed.
I think the book is long out of print mine is a 1979 edition, published by Merseyside Publications.

Could no doubt do you a scan just so long as the big ED does not mind!!?

Cheers, Chumpy.

Only about 14 to be tracked down!

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&aircrafttype=BD-5&dereg=true

But that’s assuming all projects started applied for a civil reg. The PFA would be a good place to enquire as it’s a fair bet they have a complete list – indeed one of those on G-INFO has a c/n including “PFA” & “21”

Roger Smith.

Only about 14 to be tracked down!

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&aircrafttype=BD-5&dereg=true

Here are two happy BD-5’s in Ireland, EI-DNN and ‘DNO.

http://www.bd5.com/