Beneš-Mráz Bibi

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Be-550 Bibi
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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

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

  1. 1.0 1.1 Jackson 1974, p. 358

References

  • Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919. Putnam ISBN 0-370-10014-X
  • Němeček, V. (1968). Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.
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