BD-5J Kenosha Wisconsin home-built jet: Toyoshi Kimura acquires the Thompson Kenosha jet in 1989

[@kmsag6942]

He is my uncle. He died before I was born. So,I have never met him. Thanks to this video, I was able to see him. He must be a great pilot.I'm proud of him. Thanks for sharing!!! From Japan, Toyoshi Kimura's niece.

[@ffpandd]

I was there at that time flying helicopters, I knew Kimura and actually took some of my own video from the Jet Ranger Helicopter. I will have to look through the old SVHS tapes for it. He was a good all around pilot and a super guy. One of my best friends Takashi Yamasaki was also an instructor pilot with Kimura. I totally forgot about this video that he had made. The BD5 was a cool little jet. Kimura would fly under me in the Jet Ranger wave and then bullet off into the skyline. Fun old memories, Thanks For Sharing This On Line! Scott

[@davidcordes9283]

So Miami Vice......in a time when Miami was so exotic. Now it's just not the same. Kudos to this guy!

[@jrbaeronz9840]

One of the better old BD5 J videos I've seen so far. Really shows off the planes abilities. Looks like a really good pilot as well.

[@pdutube]

Very 1980s feel to the video! The jet looks amazing.

[@garyroy3503]

My Cessna was based at Opa Locka Airport (Sun Flying) in the 1980's but I must have left just before Kimura bought the BD from you Allen, around 1988. I actually owned one of the BD-5's but it was not a jet, just the original gas engine. I kick myself every time I think about selling it for about $3000, during the depression of the early 1990's. I am sure they are not that cheap now, it was an incredible plane and must have been beyond belief with the jet conversion. It is a shame that Toyoshi and 9 passengers died in a plane crash only 5 years after he purchased the jet. He was flying family and friends South in a Beech B90 that had a mechanical emergency and eventually hit the ground before reaching an emergency airport near Lake Okeechobee. This guy must have been an amazing pilot, FAA records showed he had over 20,000 hours and was ATP and Helicopter Rated.

[@jamesholt7340]

you can buy the whole kit from Bede for around 2000$

[@garyroy3503]

Not sure what you are talking about James, Bede has been out of business for 25 years. There are no more kits, unless you luck into one stuffed away in an old garage.

[@jamesholt7340]

@@garyroy3503 Oh,i dint know..So why are they so expensive now that they are old and fatigued and should have depreciated a lot like cars do?You im sure you cant even find parts for them anymore?

[@garyroy3503]

James Holt... for the same reason my 1979 Cessna is now in the $75,000 dollar range and I sold it for $20,000 in 1988. It comes down to what is called supply and demand, new price goes up or less become available. My Cessna cost $35,000 new but they are now $250,000, just for one of the base models. There are very few Bede’s still around so they draw a big buck, if you can find one in decent shape. Less than 1000 kits were ever made and I doubt if 100 of them are still flying. If you happen to find a kit and all the pieces, you could easily get into the $30,000 range just to put it in the air.

[@gaflyer6895]

Great footage!

[@lvgeorge]

Very interesting Video and Fun to watch and learn about this part of the BD-5J History! Love that Paint scheme! Curious, the pilot Kimura did not seem to be wearing a parachute in this Video or am I wrong? I also enjoyed the comments on this Video. Thanks &Thumbs UP!

[@allentps]

Thank you

[@theogdirkdiggler]

I guess the BD-5 doesnt need marker lights.?

[@gmcjetpilot]

Where is the plane now, owner N number?

[@skywardmedia7529]

I believe it is now N575J, owned by Don Wall of Omaha, Nebraska.

[@garyroy3503]

Wow, what a coincidence. My Cessna was N5757E and I was going to try and get a similar number for my Bede when finished.

[@allentps]

There is a built-in parachute on the Seat

[@dhy5342]

The most fun you can have with your clothes on.

[@bipolatelly9806]

i bet you don't hear a chorus of birds there, anymore.... sadly

[@VEJ2]

He parked it a couple of time in the Everglades with an engine failure.

[@jamesholt7340]

so they spent 35k to make a video of a plane that only costs 2k to buy the kit from the company..seems legit

[@garyroy3503]

I had one of the kits and what you didn’t hear is a complete plane cost a hell of a lot more than $2000 to buy from Bede. That price was just the basic sheet metal fuselage, there were a dozen other kits, you needed to complete the plane (Wheel assemblies, wings, empennage, canopy, controls, engine, drive transmission, instruments, hardware and more. The biggest problem, none of the rivet holes were pre drilled. You had to hand jig and cleco one piece at a time, it was all guess work and the average labor hours averaged 1500 or more. All in all, you can easily tie up $25,000 very easily and that is doing the assembly work yourself.

[@jamesholt7340]

@@garyroy3503 well my dream of owning one was just shattered,as with anything thats fun to do in this country lol..

[@garyroy3503]

James Holt... Sorry to burst your dream. That is why I had to get rid of mine, the cost to own a small plane just became ridiculous. Insurance, fuel, maintenance and money set aside for an engine were some of the major costs that went up. Another big ticket was annual inspections, every year you have to take the plane apart and have it fully inspected. In the old days we used to do it ourselves but nowadays you have to pay a licensed mechanic and it can run a couple thousand dollars. The only way for an average Joe to fly today is rent by the hour our find a group of guys to buy in on a shared ownership. The latter can work but you really have to know your partners, before signing the papers and buying a plane. Flying is the greatest thrill you will ever experience but it is difficult now days. Good luck James, try to make it happen if you can.

[@allentps]

Donald Wall N575J. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX-Vqp2XbaegfqM

[@allentps]

That's the airplane I built that Donald Wall lis flying