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

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

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.[5]

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; 153 km/h (95 mph)
  • Endurance: 4 hours

References

  1. ↑ Wood, Richard M. (2003). "The Contributions of Vincent Justus Burnelli" (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  2. ↑ Kent A. Mitchell (Spring 1997). "Burnelli and his lifting-body transports". AAHS Journal: 2.
  3. ↑ "Continental Pusher Biplane". Aviation: 35. 1 February 1918.
  4. ↑ Joshua Stoff. Long Island Aircraft Manufacturers. p. 46.
  5. ↑ "The Continental Pusher Biplane". Aerial Age: 696. 31 December 1917.
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