Poor southerner: to go back to your original question - you might find the wikipedia entry for Jim Bede interesting.
There's quite a comprehensive section on the BD-5 A, B and J variants.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Bede
Genghis - if you only consider the -5A (short wing) variant - ALL four completed airframes crashed on their maiden flights, 3 fatally
On reflection, I think I'll stick to the Extra.......