Bede Aircraft Corporation Bd-5

Single Piston

The Bede BD-5 holds the distinction of being the world's smallest crewed jet aircraft and one of the most ambitious—and troubled—kit plane projects in aviation history. Designed by Jim Bede in the early 1970s, the BD-5 was marketed as an affordable homebuilt that could be powered by either a piston engine or a small turbojet, promising fighter-like performance in a package barely larger than a motorcycle. The jet variant, the BD-5J, became famous for its appearance in the opening sequence of the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy, where it was piloted through a hangar by stunt pilot and owner Corkey Fornof. More than 5,000 kits were sold, making it one of the best-selling kit aircraft ever, though fewer than a few hundred were actually completed due to chronic engine reliability problems, incomplete kits, and the eventual bankruptcy of Bede Aircraft. The BD-5B piston variant typically uses a modified snowmobile or motorcycle engine producing 40-70 horsepower, giving it a cruise speed around 170-200 mph and a never-exceed speed of 215 knots. With a wingspan of just 21 feet and an empty weight under 400 pounds, the aircraft is extraordinarily compact and demands precise handling—stall speeds in the 60-70 knot range leave little margin for error on approach. The BD-5J jet version, powered by a Microturbo TRS-18 turbojet producing 220 pounds of thrust, can reach speeds exceeding 300 mph, making it a genuine pocket rocket. Both variants are tail-draggers with retractable tricycle gear, and visibility from the tiny bubble canopy is excellent despite the cramped cockpit. Despite its checkered development history, the BD-5 remains a cult favorite among experimental aircraft enthusiasts, and a small number continue to fly at airshows and fly-ins. The type's combination of jet-fighter aesthetics, genuine speed, and sheer audacity ensures it a permanent place in homebuilt aviation lore. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.