Beneš-Mráz Bibi
| Be-550 Bibi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Beneš-Mráz Be.550 Bibi, 1939 | |
| Role | Sporting aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Beneš-Mráz |
| Designer | Pavel Beneš and Jaroslav Mráz |
| First flight | 1936 |
| Introduction | 1936 |
| Number built | ca. 18 |
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The Beneš-Mráz Bibi was a 1930s Czechoslovakian two-seat touring aircraft.
Design and development
The Bibi was designed and manufactured by Beneš-Mráz, developed from the Beta-Minor design. The Bibi was a lighter, smaller aircraft in which the seats were side-by-side instead of in tandem, and the cockpits were fully enclosed, retaining the Beta-Minor's cantilever low-wing cantilever monoplane layout, with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. Development of the Bibi began with the Be-501 two-seat cabin tourer, and culminated with the Be-555 Super Bibi.[1]
Operational history
One example of the Be-550 Bibi (OK-BET) was imported into the United Kingdom, stored during World War II, then registered as G-AGSR until a fatal crash in 1951.[1]
Variants
- Be-501 Bibi
- Single seat, initial development aircraft for the Bibi cabin tourer.
- Be-502 Bibi
- Single seat development prototype for the Bibi series.
- Be-550 Bibi
- Initial production version introduced in 1936, with at least six built, including single exports to Egypt and the UK.
- Be-555 Super Bibi
- The final iteration of the Bibi with many improvements. Production continued after the start of WWII, with at least ten built.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 11.50 m (37 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 14.0 m2 (151 ft2)
- Empty weight: 340 kg (529 lb)
- Gross weight: 560 kg (1,235 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Walter Mikron inverted air-cooled inline piston engine, 48 kW (65 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 195 km/h (122 mph)
- Range: 700 km (436 miles)
- Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,120 ft)
Notes
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beneš-Mráz Bibi. |
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919. Putnam ISBN 0-370-10014-X
- Němeček, V. (1968). Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 152.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 25.
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