Brandli BX-2 Cherry
The Brändli BX-2 Cherry began as a retirement project: Swiss engineer Max Brändli, then 55, designed it himself and built the prototype in his own cellar, a job that took three and a half years and roughly 5,500 hours before its first flight in April 1982. The two-seat, low-wing sportplane uses a wood-and-composite structure with styrofoam-cored, glass-fibre-covered wings that detach quickly for road transport or storage, plus a retractable tricycle undercarriage that was unusual among homebuilts of its era. Plans sold widely afterward, and over 100 examples have since been completed by amateur builders, most powered by Continental, Rotax, or Jabiru engines.
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Did you know?
A homebuilt sportplane with retractable gear and detachable wings, the Brändli Cherry was completed from its plans by more than 100 amateur builders.
Specifications
| Length | 5.2 m (17 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Height | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.6 t |
| Range | 500 NM (926 km) |
| Service ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Rate of climb | 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 300 m (984 ft) |
| Landing distance | 150 m (492 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 72 l |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Brandli BX-2 Cherry starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
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