Beecraft Honey Bee

The Beecraft Honey Bee was an all-metal V-tailed homebuilt aircraft, that was designed by Walter E. Mooney and first flown on 12 July 1952.[1]

Honey Bee
Honey Bee in flight
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Bee Aviation Associates, Inc.
Designer Walter E. Mooney
First flight 12 July 1952
Introduction 1952
Number built 1

Design and development

The Honey Bee was designed and built by Walter E. Mooney[2]

The Honey Bee is a single seat all metal, high-wing, tricycle gear-equipped aircraft with a V-tail. The stressed skin aircraft is designed to accommodate wing flaps and slots.[3]

The prototype was test flown by William Chana on 12 July 1952 and certified on 17 December 1953.[4]

Aircraft on display
Bee Aviation Honey Bee awaiting restoration at the San Diego Air & Space Museum

The Honey Bee prototype now is on display at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. It is the lone Bee aircraft to survive an arson fire at the museum.

Specifications (Honey Bee)

Data from Air Trails

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 17 ft (5.2 m)
  • Wingspan: 29 ft (8.8 m)
  • Wing area: 95 sq ft (8.8 m2)
  • Airfoil: NACA 4418
  • Empty weight: 550 lb (249 kg)
  • Gross weight: 860 lb (390 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental A-65 , 65 hp (48 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 kn (120 mph, 190 km/h)
  • Rate of climb: 1,100 ft/min (5.6 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 8.95 lb/sq ft (43.7 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 13.25lb/hp

References
  1. Air Trails: 76. Winter 1971. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Bee Aviation Associates". Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  3. "Sweet Little Plane". Flying: 53. October 1952.
  4. The Aeroplane, Volume 86. p. 222.

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