| KB-1 | |
|---|---|
| Role | reconnaissanceType of aircraft |
| 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.
Development
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. 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.
Design
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 with "tusks" that dig into the ground for braking. The wings are set without stagger or dihedral. The fuselage is constructed of mahogany veneer.
Specifications (KB-1)
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
- 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.