Bob McBride, e-mail, 19.03.2026 16:51 Thank you for response, I'm actually a bit excited to hear back from you. Especially since you've included some history. In my first message I mentioned that I became aware of the Honey Bee when a fellow member of an RC club built a scale model of the Honey Bee, and honestly, that was when I learned most of the few details I know about the plane. However, I'd actually seen one, "in the flesh", when I was kid. It's the only time I've ever seen one, and at the time, I didn't know what it was that I had seen. All I knew that a high wing with a "Vee" tail was just too cool. I ended up shooting an entire roll of film (24 exposures), but I didn't know anything else. It wasn't until that RC model came along that I learned the name of the plane. I'm especially interested now, as it seems a real possibility that the one I saw all those years ago was the one your grandfather built in Baltimore. I saw the plane sometime in the 1970s, while attending a "Fly in/Air show" at College Park Airport, in College Park, Maryland (I also took my very first flying lesson that day). College Park Airport is only about 20-25 miles (by air) from the Baltimore area. I've built two [R/C] models of the plane over the years, but they were only approximations based on my memory, and some photos of the scale model at the RC club. I have to admit that many times since my youth I've entertained the possibility of building or buying a full scale Honey Bee project. However, given the apparent lack of information and plans, it always seemed more of a fantasy than a real possibility. Your response has added a trace of reality and has sparked a genuine interest. I would love to learn any information that you have about your grandfathers plane, be those, plans, personal notations, thoughts, etc. I'm quickly approaching retirement age, and if things were to line up and allow me to have a Honey Bee as a retirement project, I'd be overjoyed. As I stated, I was just a kid when I saw the plane. I have no recollection of speaking to anyone about the plane. I know that I shot an entire roll of film on the plane, some of the interior taken through the plexiglass side window and the rest being exterior shots from every angle I could manage. I had those photos for many years, not knowing exactly what it was that I had. Unfortunately, those photos, along with most of my family photos (thousands of them), were lost during a move in the early 1990s. Thanks again for your response, I look forward (eagerly) to learning whatever information you may be able to provide. Thank you, Bob McBride

Jeremy Smith, e-mail, 18.03.2026 14:23 Hello Mr. McBride and possibly Mr. Mooney- My grandfather was Truman L. Smith, who built a Honey Bee in his basement outside of Baltimore in the 1950s. Truman flew the Honey Bee through much of the rest of his life, and his plane is now on display at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston. My family *might* also have plans or other materials, but I would need to check. If you are interested, let me know. Best Regards, Jeremy Smith

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Al Robinson, e-mail, 20.02.2025 23:57 Hi Joe , Any chance of getting a copy of the plans for the Honey Bee? What ever the cost is just let me know.. This would be my 7th (and last !) Homebuilt Blessings ! Al A&P

ROBERT MCBRIDE, e-mail, 31.12.2024 20:35 Greetings Mr. Rossetti, I realize this is an old post, on an old thread, but I'm still hopeful that this will find it's way to you. I'm interested in obtaining the plans for the Honey Bee. I hope you this reaches you, and look forward to your response. Regards, Bob McBride

ROBERT MCBRIDE, e-mail, 31.12.2024 20:31 Greetings Mr. Mooney, I realize that I'm responding to a 9 year old post, however, I've just stumbled onto this today. I'm hoping that perhaps this will actually reach you. For a number of years now, I've been intrigued by the Honey Bee that was owned by your father. I first learned of the plane when a member of my R/C model club built one at approximately 1/4 scale. He lofted the plans himself from some photo's and an old magazine article. At that time I had already built 3 or 4 models from plans, designed/drawn by Walt Mooney. When the dots were connected, I became even more interested in the Honey Bee. I read somewhere in this thread, that the plans were still available. I'm wondering if, 9 years later, that is still the case. I've been involved with the building of three homebuilt aircraft over the years, and now I would like to build one of my own. I would love to have the Honey Bee be the subject of my own building project. I send this with my fingers crossed, hoping that it will find it's way to you. Thank you, and regards, Bob McBride

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don macey, e-mail, 10.04.2016 18:29 If anyone has a set of plans or know who owns the desgn rights/certficate let me know.

Douglas Mooney, e-mail, 11.08.2015 03:35 When I was little I used to hide in the baggage compartment so the tower would not see me and Dad would take me out and I would fly while sitting on his lap (no rudder peddles for me) We would fly for the longest times with only me on the controls

skarl, e-mail, 03.03.2015 03:49 lets try this again. I have an original weebee engine that was found in the home of a marine from an abandoned wwII airbase. I know little about it but if anyone is interested , please contact me.

David, e-mail, 25.01.2015 18:21 Curtiss, I used to fly with your dad back at Scale Staffel. He had a Bostonian he designed of the Honey Bee but never published the plans. I'm checking to see if maybe you have a set of those plans? Scigs@aol.com

Charle Paz, e-mail, 14.10.2014 04:31 Greetings,are drawings available for the Honey Bee,and cost. Regards

Curtiss Mooney, e-mail, 02.08.2014 21:54 The Honey Bee is awaiting restoration by the San Diego Air & Space Museum. My dad Walt Mooney flew it for 18+ years, after purchasing it for the nominal price of $1.00. When spar corrosion set in, he donated it to the EAA Museum and they eventually donated it to the San Diego museum. Dad and his fellow Convair engineers never anticipated flying it for more than a couple of years so they didn't bother to use zinc-chromate primer on any of the interior surfaces, just the exterior panels, otherwise he'd would have continued to fly it. It *is* a Type-Certificated design, as there was no such thing as an Experimental Aircraft rating back when it was built, and my brother Douglas Martin Mooney may still have the plans available for sale (or at least to make a copy of). There was even a wider-body two-place, side-by-side version that at least one home-builder put together. - Hey: Dave LeBelle! Dad wrote a poem about the time you and a Piper Cub went skipping backwards down the Banning runway, dead-stick thanbks to the Santa Ana winds. Would you like a copy?

Joe Rossetti A&P, e-mail, 05.11.2013 03:59 I have the original construction plans for this aircraft. There are also photographs included in the plans. This aircraft is very unique in that it could be built as experimental or under Type Certificate 4A11. Bee Aviation would issue you a manufacturing serial number and metal data plate for one certified Honey Bee airplane only for $50. I would like more people to know about this unique little plane or see one built again. This would make a great little light sport plane.

lou southwick, e-mail, 24.07.2013 04:16 I also have a postcard with a picture of the Wee Bee worlds smallest aircraft.

lou southwick, e-mail, 24.07.2013 04:09 I have original pictures of this aircraft and letters from Jack Collins who was involved in building it . Also a newspaper clipping and a picture tells weight, and design features,A picture of the test flight.

David La Belle, e-mail, 19.02.2013 00:02 In the early 1960's I had the good fortune of knowing Walt Mooney. I had unlimited access to the Honeybee.On most weekends I would fly the honeybee cross country. It was a joy to fly. As I recall it cruised about 110 mph,burning 4.5 gal per hr. at 2200 rpm. The controls were well harmonized and would fly hands off in smooth air! When I landed I always drew a crowd

David La Belle, e-mail, 19.02.2013 00:02 In the early 1960's I had the good fortune of knowing Walt Mooney. I had unlimited access to the Honeybee.On most weekends I would fly the honeybee cross country. It was a joy to fly. As I recall it cruised about 110 mph,burning 4.5 gal per hr. at 2200 rpm. The controls were well harmonized and would fly hands off in smooth air! When I landed I always drew a crowd

Bill L., e-mail, 09.01.2011 06:04 One of the Honey Bee's designers, Walt Mooney, was also a model airplane designer ... once flew his whole family of 5, wife + kids (had a huge cargo area behind the pilot's seat. Also would fly hands-off for as long as you wished. From level flight would slowly enter a spiral, accelerating, tighter turn, until speed built up high enough when it would fairly quickly start to come out of the turn and dive, sort of level off, when you realized it was tipping again from level flight, but turning in the opposite direction. A fairly strange series of gyrations when viewed from the ground too. Had a nice cruise, about 120 mph, if I remember correctly ... all on 65 hp! Most fun x-country airplane I ever flew. Only problem was unusually long takeoff roll because of fixed, high pitch cruse prop.

Tom Miller, e-mail, 07.07.2008 08:09 Beecraft Associates also built a four place airplane called the "Queen Bee". Only one was built and it was destroyed in a fire at the San Diego Aerospace Museum.

Rob Dickson, e-mail, 14.07.2007 14:50 THis A/c is constructed from 020 Alclad, with a laminated top compression spar cap.Are there any other photo's or Diagrams availiable ? How did the V tail mixer work ?

Bob DuHamel, e-mail, 11.05.2007 06:36 This aircraft is currently at the San Diego Air & Space Museum (Gillespie Field Annex) awaiting restoration. Look on Wikipedia soon for a photograph.

R2, e-mail, 16.11.2006 04:09 Hello Friends this air craft still exist´s?, i want to know, and if the airplane its available, what´s the price in US dollars regards