Former F-14 and A-10 driver Justin Lewis worked to update the BD-5 and was invited this year to fly it over the grand stage of EAA’s AirVenture Oshkosh airshow as the FLSMicroJet — so that’s exactly what he did. Lewis said he worked with BD Microtechnologies to help create the FLSMicroJet, a modernized BD-5. The jet weighs 416 pounds empty, has a glass panel, and delivers 265 lbs of thrust that drive it to speeds up to 320 mph. It has a wingspan of just 17 feet and, says Justin, “a CG range of about 2 inches.”
Justin flies his airshow routine up to more than four G’s and says the tiny jet is actually very easy to fly … “with the exception of conditioning yourself for the very low-to-the-ground sight picture on landing.” Lewis told AVweb he was inspired by seeing the jet as a young man and now hopes to pass on that gift to other young people that may see him at AirVenture or future airshows across the country.
