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Model: BD-5J
Year: 1974
Serial number: 5J-0004
Registration: N153BD
Aircraft first registered: unknown
Status: Destroyed in flight fireN153BD: Bede built aircraft, cn 5J-0004. Flown as N153BD with tail number ‘3’ in standard white-red Bede livery, probably as #3 of the ‘Bede Jet Team’ (a picture with tail number ‘1’ exists too though). attended Oshkosh 1975. It was used for military evaluations by the USAF, US Navy at Patuxent River, and in France. Sold to Richard Bach, as a sister ship to N177RB. Sold to Red Stevenson, who crashed it on takeoff damaging wings and fuselage. Sold to John Duncan, who hired former Bede factory foreman Bill Zivko to rebuild it. It was also modified on several occasions with upgraded wings and engine. The aircraft was operated from 1979 to 1987 as ‘Microjet Airshow’, then for Republic Airlines and finally as the (first) Bud Light jet, piloted by owner John Duncan. The aircraft and pilot (plus Ed Johnson) also served as the second jet on the movie Octopussy, alongside Corkey Fornoff. Sold to Leo Loudenslager and re-registered N1BL (later re-registered again to N210LL).
Was flown as the Bud Light Jet during the 1987 and 1988 seasons, piloted initially by Ed Johnson and Leo Loudenschlager, and by Bill Beardsley from the spring of 1988. The aircraft was modified by Kirby Totty with a secondary spar. A unique feature of the Bud Light jet was that Leo added fireworks: a flare dispenser was mounted on the lower aft fuselage. The flares were fired in conjunction with a ground fired rack of salutes. A flame thrower was tried first, but that plan was abandonded. N1BL was also used as the ‘mall airplane’ for a day or two before the shows, fitted with fake fiberglass wings made by Kirby Totty. Re-registered N210LL (1988 or later) and continued to be owned by Loudenschlager.
Registration changed to N1BL: Registered as N1BL when sold to Leo Loudenschlager, seven-time US aerobatics champion.
N1BL Museum Exhibit: Located at the Budweiser Brewery in St Louis, MO. Painted as the Bud Light jet that no longer exists. Although it conflicts somewhat with the information listed for the real N1BL, it is reported that this exhibit is the former ‘mall airplane’ of the Bud Light Jet team, that could be dropped off at a mall on the way into town to generate interest in the show. It was an abandoned BD-5 project made up to look like the show jet. Ed Johnson’s crew member Michael Wheeler picked it up in Kenosha (WI). The following names are listed on the side of the aircraft: ‘Constructor Kirby Totty, Mark Hromnak – Assisted: Steve Borgman, Steve Stratz, Chris Woodward’.
Registration changed to N210LL: The new registration N210LL was chosen as the most compatible with N10LL, Loudenschlagers Laser 200. It continued to be flown as the Bud Light Jet, piloted by Bill ‘Burner’ Beardsley with his parents (Bill and Teresa Beardsley) as crew members, together forming the ‘Bud Light Air Force’ aka BLAF. On occassions where both the jet and Leo’s Laser attended, Leo flew the jet too. Ownership transferred to Bill and Teresa Beardsley after Leo Loudenslager passed away in 1997. Red-white scheme with blue and gold cheat line, Bud Light markings in several variations. Flown for a number of years like this. The jet was leased to Freedom Jets, and flown without Bud Light markings on military contract operations. During one of these missions, the aircraft developed an in-flight fire. A fuel servo burst and flooded the engine compartment and then cockpit with flames. Pilot Bob Bishop bailed out, and the aircraft was destroyed (17 April 2002, near Grovehill, AL).
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