evans@mhuxt.UUCP (06/14/83)
Having just seen the latest 007 movie I went off to my magazine pile to re-read the article on the BD-5J in the Jan. 1976 FLYING. It seems that Richard Bach, still flushed with money from Jonathan Livingston Seagull royalties, ordered one within minutes of seeing the BD-5 team fly in 1974. He was wise enough not to wait for the certified aircraft and ended up spending just under $30,000. The BD-5J is described as "the second best plane in the world" by Bach (who's ideal is a 1947 Aeronca Champ) and by Corey Fornoff (who likes Bearcats). The primary problem seems to be the wing which is either not big enough, or has the wrong airfoil. It stalls at 82mph, and typically requires 4500' of concrete runway for takeoffs. Several 5Js have met untimely ends during both takeoffs and landings. I've seen 5Js fly and they give an amazing illusion of extreme speed ( a 12' fuse. and 17' wing help). Richard Bach's description is "a scaled-down thunderclap", which is a good one. The redline speed is 288 mph, high cruise (15000+ ASL) is 250, low cruise (12000') is 215. The engine is the TRS-18 Microjet (where have I seen TRS and Micro mentioned before.....?), which is in the 200 pounds of thrust category. The military was very interested in these aircraft for use as flight proficiency tools in `74 and `75 (think how many times $30k will go into the fuel bill for a squadron of F-15s). The flight test program was terminated when someone tried to fly a leg of a final about 10mph less than stall. I don't know if any 5Js are flying the airshow circuit anymore - they were a couple of years ago. The one used in the 007 movie is in airshow colors and is equipted with smoke. A few years ago someone was working on putting a Willams turbofan in a 5J. I never heard anything else -- the Willams engine is smaller than the TRS-18, has similar fuel consumption, and is in the 400 - 600 pound of thrust category. Wouldn't it be interesting if Burt Rutan was to come across a Willams turbofan and feel guilty about just letting it sit there... the wildest aircraft has yet to be built.. Steve Crandall mhuxt!evans