British Secret Agent James Bond has always been at the forefront of innovation – back in 1983, ‘Q’ issued 007 with a Bede BD-1 single-seat micro jet to battle the baddies in the film Octopussy.
Twenty-five years later, the Bede concept has been taken to a new level with the LH-10 Ellipse. This composite kit-plane evolves the basic idea of the Bede BD-5 single-seat kit plane, the propeller-driven version of Bond’s tiny jet. The biggest difference is the fact that Ellipse is a tandem two-seater – so Miss Moneypenny can come for a spin too.
The Ellipse is powered by a 100hp Rotax 912 ULS engine mounted at the rear with a pusher propeller, giving a maximum cruise speed of 200kt. Unlike the all-metal Bede, the airframe is all-composite. Even in kit form it is almost ready to fly, with most of the structural parts bonded and ready for assembly.
Source: Flight Daily News
