wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja) (10/06/85)
Flew into Port Orchard airport last weekend, and found a trail of interesting airplanes, just like bread crumbs. First there was a open cockpit parasol homebuilt (Baby Ace?), then a nice Stinson 108, then, just inside the hangar, a Stinson L-5 Fuselage. Behind that was the familiar shape of a BD-5. On the walk back to the 150, I realized something hadn't been right. I turned around and looked inside the hangar again. World's largest BD-5! Found the owner inside. He uses the hangar to build rehabilitation exercisers, and rebuilds old planes for fun. It was indeed the one-and-only BD-7. It was in the BD factory paint job, with the stylized "BD" insignia on the rudder. It looked like a BD-5 that had had an airhose inserted... same proportions, only larger. The side panel was off, and what looked like a Hirth 40 feet away, from the hangar door, turned out to be an O-360. The front end is very remincient of the new "Prescott Pusher," very similar in shape. Didn't have the wings on it, but was resting on its own gear. Just as an indication of size versus a BD-5, the top of the rudder was 6 or 7 feet off the floor! I talked with the owner a while, as he showed me around. I forgot completely to ask how he had got hold of it, but he talked alot of Bede's efforts to certify the -7. Certainly a facinating-looking bird, like something out of an SF movie. He also had what appeared to be a set of plans (makes sense, if he's going to restore it). He said someone had come in and borrowed the plans, but had decided not to try his own... but offered to help on the restoration. Ron Wanttaja (ssc-vax!wanttaja)
markmo@tekig4.UUCP (Mark Morland) (10/10/85)
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markmo@tekig4.UUCP (Mark Morland) (10/10/85)
-------- Are there two? In July I saw one (it?) in a hanger at Aurora, OR. The description matches Ron Wanttaja's except that no engine was in place. The red (or orange) trim color paint was faded, the wings were off, and the interior appeared to have never been finished. The seats were bare fiberglass, and the panel was almost empty, with a rats nest of wires sticking out of the gauge holes. I'll call the Pietonpol owner who shares his hanger with the BD-7, and will post an info update soon. Mark Morland tektronix!tekig4!markmo