Three of the tiniest planes in the world
So we’ve sailed small, now let’s fly small:
The Cri-Cri ultralight was developed in the seventies by French aircraft designer Michel Colomban, whose goal was an sub-$1000 (1970 dollars) aerobatic ultralight. It weighs 139 pounds in its original configuration, making it the lightest airplane in existence. You can also put tiny R/C jets on it, as depicted in the photo, to get up to 150 mph.
The BD-5J is certified as the smallest plane in the world. It cruises at a brisk 240mph and has a range of 400 miles, making it perfect for those DC to Boston runs. All on 30 gallons of gas, giving it a mileage of 13 mpg. Of course, you’ll need to fedex your undies, since the cockpit’s pretty tiny. Still, this plane was in Octopussy, which makes it all right in my book.
But the cutest small plane has to be the Starr Bumblebee. It’s certainly heavier than either of the above at 547 lb, but it’s painted black and yellow. Make sure to get the original for your commute, however, since the Bumblebee II nearly killed Starr in a total engine failure at 400 feet. Aerospaceweb.org deems this a “mixed success.”
For more info, definitely start with Aerospace’s article on the subject. If you want one of these, they mostly come in kit form. And if you’re willing to build this from plans you got on the Internet, um, wow.
