Beneš-Mráz Bibi

The Beneš-Mráz Bibi was a 1930s Czechoslovak two-seat touring aircraft.

Walter Mikron and Beneš-Mráz Be-501 Bibi (1936)

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

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]

Walter Mikron and Beneš-Mráz Be-550 Bibi (1936)

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 (Be-550)

Data from L'Année Aéronautique 1938–1939[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Length: 7.31 m (24 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.51 m (37 ft 9 in)
  • Height: 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 14.0 m2 (151 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 330 kg (728 lb)
  • Gross weight: 560 kg (1,235 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Walter Mikron II air-cooled 4-cylinder inverted inline engine, 45 kW (60 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn) at 100 m (330 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 175 km/h (109 mph, 94 kn)
  • Range: 780 km (480 mi, 420 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,200 m (17,100 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 6 min 30 s to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)

Notes
  1. Jackson 1974, p. 358
  2. Hirschauer & Dollfus 1939, p. 26

References
  • Hirschauer, L; Dollfus, Ch (1939). L'Année Aéronautique 1938–1939 (in French). Paris: Dunod. Retrieved 11 December 2019 – via BnF Gallica.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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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