In article , John Thompson says...

I noticed a flyer offering a BD-5 for sale on the bulleting board in
front of the EAA Wearhouse, by none other that "our" Juan J.
Looked pretty complete.

Yeah, right guy. This is Juan's third BD-5, and it's a BD-5J.

Juan has been ambivalent about whether to finish or sell it. He has been
planning to move back to
his native Puerto Rico, and wanted a plane that (1) was suitable for overwater
trips to the mainland,
and (2) would carry 4 people, or two and luggage. Especially as his son is
starting to get into
flying. So when he's looking for a practical plane, a BD-5J is not it.

Last I understood, he was going to finish and fly the BD-5J. He didn't start it,
in fact it was
complete and might have flown (?) in Australia, but when it was containered to
him it broke free in
the container and he had a lot of physical damage to repair (which is done now).
The Aussies
mandated some changes in the design (a built-up spar in place of the Bede tube
spar was one),
and I know that Juan found that a couple of the things on the plane were not
built with the latest
updates (thinking tail surfaces here).

I don't think there's anything wrong with Juan's plane (I saw it a year ago),
but he's a victim of the
fact that a BD-5J is a real oddity, and there is not a lot of demand for it.

If anybody is seriously looking for a 5J, Juan's is worth looking at. If he
flies it (and lives) he will
probably change his mind about selling it.

cheers

-=K=-

Rule #1: Don't hit anything big.