The World’s Smallest Airplanes
Some aircraft manufacturers race to build the largest airplanes while others are focusing on building the tiniest of metal birds. Maybe one day we’ll all be making transcontinental flights in private flying pods. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the world’s smallest aircraft to ever go into production.
Stits SA-2A Sky Baby
Length: 9 ft. 10 in
Wingspan: 7 ft. 2 in
Height: 5 ft.
Empty Weight: 452 lb.
Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons
What does a person do when a fellow aviator challenges him to create the world’s smallest pilotable plane? He builds it and calls it the Sky Baby. In 1952, Ray Stits sent the Sky Baby into the air with Robert H. Starr piloting the tiny plane. It earned Stits the Guinness World Record for creating the “World’s Smallest Plane.” The record stood until 1984 when Starr built the Bumble Bee II. Today, you can’t fly the Sky Baby, but you can visit it at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
Bumble Bee II
Length: 8 ft. 10 in
Wingspan: 5 ft. 6 in
Height: 3 ft. 11 in
Empty Weight: 396 lb.
Fuel capacity: 3 U.S. gallons
The Bumble Bee II was designed and built specifically to acquire the title of “The World’s Smallest Piloted Airplane.” Pilot Robert Starr of Phoenix, Arizona, was the co-builder and test pilot for the previous record-holding “Sky Baby.” The version of the Bumble Bee can be seen on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
Cri-Cri
Length: 12 ft. 10 in
Wingspan: 16 ft. 1 in
Height: 3 ft. 11 in
Empty Weight: 172 lb.
The title of the world’s smallest electric plane in the world goes to the Cri-Cri. In July 2015, a French pilot became the first person to cross the English Channel in an electric plane while piloting the Cri-Cri.
BD-5J
Length: 13 ft. 7 in
Wingspan: 21 ft. 6 in
Height: 4 ft. 2 in
Empty Weight: 355 lb.
Fans of James Bond might recognize an earlier model of the BD-5J from “Octopussy,” in which 007 flew the BD-5 through an airport hangar. The newer model is also one of the world’s smallest planes. It’s often called a microjet, seating just one person and featuring a wing span of just 21 feet. If you’d like one for yourself $180,000 will buy it. The plane is delivered in a kit that you can assemble yourself.
Cessna Citation Mustang
Length: 41 ft.
Wingspan: 43 ft. 7 in
Height: 13 ft. 5 in
Empty Weight: 5,600 lb.
Capacity: 4-5 passengers
If you’re looking for a small plane that can hold a few passengers try out the Cessna Citation Mustang. With two cockpit seats and four passenger seats, the small lightweight jet is just under 41 feet long. The single-pilot aircraft has leather interiors and a restroom on board.
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