Continental KB-1
| KB-1 | |
|---|---|
| Role | reconnaissance |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Continental Aircraft Corporation |
| Designer | Vincent Justus Burnelli |
| Introduction | 1916 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Continental KB-1, also known as KB-1 Military Biplane or KB-1 Continental Pusher, is an early design developed by the engineer Vincent Burnelli.[1]
Development
[edit]The KB-1 was Burnelli's second production aircraft after his Burnelli-Carisi Biplane. Burnelli's KB-1 tandem pusher biplane was a somewhat conventional design compared to his future lifting-body designs.[2] The aircraft, developed for a U.S. Air Service reconnaissance contact was not awarded a production contract despite successful demonstration flights by test pilot Bert Acosta over New York at temperatures as low as −11 °F.[3] [4]
Design
[edit]The KB-1 is a tandem seat pusher biplane with open cockpits. The tail is supported with two steel tube booms. The landing gear used a four-wheel arrangement using Ackerman wheels[clarification needed] with "tusks" that dig into the ground for braking. The wings are set without stagger or dihedral. The fuselage is constructed of mahogany veneer.[5]
Specifications (KB-1)
[edit]Data from AAHS Journal,Aerial Age
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 1
- Length: 22 ft (6.7 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft (11 m)
- Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
- Airfoil: USA-5
- Empty weight: 1,500 lb (680 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,600 lb (1,179 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 45 gal
- Powerplant: 1 × Hall-Scott A-5A , 135 hp (101 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed Paragon
Performance
- Cruise speed: 83 kn (95 mph, 153 km/h)
- Endurance: 4 hours
References
[edit]- ^ Wood, Richard M. (2003). "The Contributions of Vincent Justus Burnelli" (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ Kent A. Mitchell (Spring 1997). "Burnelli and his lifting-body transports". AAHS Journal: 2.
- ^ "Continental Pusher Biplane". Aviation: 35. 1 February 1918.
- ^ Joshua Stoff. Long Island Aircraft Manufacturers. p. 46.
- ^ "The Continental Pusher Biplane". Aerial Age: 696. 31 December 1917.