Beecraft
Bee Aviation Associates, Inc. (Beecraft) built three prototype airplanes designed by William F. "Bill" Chana at Montgomery Field in San Diego, California. None went into production.
The first plane was the Wee Bee, completed in 1948. It’s listed as the world’s lightest aircraft, weighing 210 pounds (95 kg) empty. It had a two‑cylinder engine and tricycle landing gear, and the pilot rode lying on top of the fuselage in a prone position.
The second plane, the Honey Bee, was finished in 1952. It had a single seat in an enclosed cabin.
The third and largest plane, the Queen Bee, was completed in 1960 and seated four. The Honey Bee and Queen Bee both used a V‑tail design.
In 1978, a fire at the San Diego Aerospace Museum destroyed the Queen Bee and the Wee Bee. The Honey Bee survived the fire and had been operating out of Montgomery Field, owned by Walt Mooney at that time.
In 2004, the Experimental Aircraft Association donated the Honey Bee to the San Diego Air & Space Museum, where it was awaiting restoration at the Gillespie Field annex as of 2007.
Aerofiles notes that two Honey Bees were built from advertised plans. A second Wee Bee was later built and is on display at the new San Diego Air & Space Museum.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:42 (CET).