TYPE: Single-seat sportplane kitbuilt; tandem-seat sportplane kitbuilt.
PROGRAMME: Announced June 2000; prototype (N624BD) completed by end of that year and first flew 11 February 2001. Certification programme under way. Public debut at Sun 'n' Fun, April 2001.
CURRENT VERSIONS: BD-17: Single-seat version, as described.
BD-18: Two-seat derivative, announced mid-2003. First flight was scheduled for June 2003 but slipped. Construction as BD-17.
CUSTOMERS: At least 17 BD-17 kits sold and four aircraft registered by August 2003; three of which were completed by that time.
COSTS: BD-17 US$19,990, BD-18 US$28,500, both less engine (2003).
DESIGN FEATURES: Intended to be extremely easy to build, with approximately 110 parts. Optional folding wings. Constant-chord wings. Fin fillet.
Wing section (BD-18) NACA 64416A (mod).
FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. No flaps on prototype BD-17; production kits have flaps. BD-18 maximum flap deflection 30°.
STRUCTURE: All-metal honeycomb sandwich. Honeycomb fuselage covered with 5 mm (0.20 in) aluminium sheet; control surfaces of urethane foam. Constant-chord wings have extruded tube spar.
LANDING GEAR: Fixed; choice of tricycle or tailwheel layout. Speed fairings optional. Scotch ply main legs. Differential braking. Prototype BD-17 has 5.00-5 mainwheel tyres and 25 cm (10 in) nosewheel tyre.
POWER PLANT: BD-17: Power plants in the range 33.6 to 59.7 kW (45 to 85 hp) being considered; prototype has 44.7 kW (60 hp) HKS-700 two-cylinder four-stroke engine. Fuel capacity 76 litres (20.0 US gallons; 16.7 Imp gallons).
BD-18: Power plants in the range 59.7 to 89.5 kW (80 to 120 hp) recommended, though engines as large as 134 kW (180 hp) are being considered. Prototype has 59.7 kW (80 hp) Jabiru 2200. Fuel capacity 163 litres (43.0 US gallons; 35.8 Imp gallons).
ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only in BD-17, pilot and passenger side-by-side, in BD-18, rearward-sliding canopy.
| DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL: | |
| Wing span: BD-17 | 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in) |
| BD-18 | 7.77 m (25 ft 6 in) |
| Wing chord, constant: BD-17 | 0.76 m (2 ft 6 in) |
| BD-18 | 1.03 m (3 ft 4½ in) |
| Wing aspect ratio: BD-17 | 8.6 |
| BD-18 | 7.7 |
| Length overall: BD-17 | 5.51 m (18 ft 1 in) |
| BD-18 | 5.97 m (19 ft 7 in) |
| Height overall: both | 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) |
| DIMENSIONS, INTERNAL: | |
| Cockpit max width: BD-17 | 1.17 m (3 ft 10 in) |
| BD-18 | 1.19 m (3 ft 11 in) |
| AREAS: | |
| Wings, gross: BD-17 | 4.97 m² (53.5 sq ft) |
| BD-18 | 7.86 m² (84.6 sq ft) |
| WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS: (BD-17 with engine) | 89.4 kW; 120 hp |
| Weight empty: BD-17 | 236 kg (520 lb) |
| BD-18 | 261 kg (575 lb) |
| Max T-O weight: BD-17 | 430 kg (950 lb) |
| BD-18 | 567 kg (1,250 lb) |
| PERFORMANCE: (estimated; BD-17 with 89.4 kW; 120 hp engine): | |
| Never-exceed speed (VNE) | 169 kt (313 km/h; 195 mph) |
| Cruising speed: BD-17 | 129 kt (238 km/h; 148 mph) |
| BD-18 | 137 kt (254 km/h; 158 mph) |
| Stalling speed, flaps up: | |
| BD-17, BD-18 | 55 kt (102 km/h; 63 mph) |
| flaps down: BD-17 | 48 kt (89 km/h; 55 mph) |
| BD-18 | 47 kt (87 km/h; 54 mph) |
| Max rate of climb at S/L: BD-17 | 290 m (950 ft) /min |
| BD-18 | 442 m (1,450 ft) /min |
| T-O run: BD-17 | 213 m (700 ft) |
| BD-18 | 168 m (550 ft) |
| Landing run: BD-17 | 189 m (620 ft) |
| BD-18 | 165 m (540 ft) |
| Range, max fuel and reserves: | |
| BD-17 | 825 n miles (1,528 km; 950 miles) |
| BD-18 | 912 n miles (1,689 km; 1,050 miles) |
