inigo88
Composite-lover
Anyone know where to find and purchase them?
I have been humoring the idea of building a homebuilt as an Aerospace Engineering senior design project for some time. I was originally looking for in-progress Long EZ builds to take over, but a friend has generously offered to donate a BD-5 fuselage and wing skins to the cause. It's an incomplete kit, so we'd be lacking some of the more complicated parts and trying to fabricate as much as possible from scratch (fortunately my university has several machine shops!).
I am trying to pitch the build as a faculty-supported club or class with multiple students working on it. It would be for "educational purposes only", with some extensive academic structural analysis done and published (possibly beyond what Jim Bede did back in the late 60s). Due to the high mortality rate of experienced BD pilots and difficulty in obtaining the engine I'm not convinced I want to set foot in the thing, but I want the airframe built to FAA standards (i.e. AC 43.13). Other options would be static display, donation to an aerospace museum, structural testing, etc.
I've tried to get in touch with Alturair at Gillespie field (so far unsuccessfully), and I'm planning on contacting aerospace museums that have done past BD-5 restorations (San Diego Air & Space Museum and Western Museum of Flight at TOA), but if anyone has or knows anyone who may know how to get a hold of the plans, I'm all ears! Any other suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have been humoring the idea of building a homebuilt as an Aerospace Engineering senior design project for some time. I was originally looking for in-progress Long EZ builds to take over, but a friend has generously offered to donate a BD-5 fuselage and wing skins to the cause. It's an incomplete kit, so we'd be lacking some of the more complicated parts and trying to fabricate as much as possible from scratch (fortunately my university has several machine shops!).
I am trying to pitch the build as a faculty-supported club or class with multiple students working on it. It would be for "educational purposes only", with some extensive academic structural analysis done and published (possibly beyond what Jim Bede did back in the late 60s). Due to the high mortality rate of experienced BD pilots and difficulty in obtaining the engine I'm not convinced I want to set foot in the thing, but I want the airframe built to FAA standards (i.e. AC 43.13). Other options would be static display, donation to an aerospace museum, structural testing, etc.
I've tried to get in touch with Alturair at Gillespie field (so far unsuccessfully), and I'm planning on contacting aerospace museums that have done past BD-5 restorations (San Diego Air & Space Museum and Western Museum of Flight at TOA), but if anyone has or knows anyone who may know how to get a hold of the plans, I'm all ears! Any other suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
