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Burnelli UB 14

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Top speed
  
383 km/h

Length
  
13 m

Designer
  
Vincent Burnelli

Wingspan
  
22 m

First flight
  
1934

Burnelli UB-14 Burnelli UB14

The Burnelli UB-14 was a 1930s American prototype lifting-fuselage airliner designed and built by Vincent Burnelli.

Contents

Design and development

Burnelli UB-14 wwwaviastarorgpicturesusaburnelliub14jpg

Following on from his earlier designs Vincent Burnelli designed a commercial transport version using the lifting-fuselage concept. Burnelli's designs were based on the idea that an airfoil-section fuselage would contribute to the lift generated. The Burnelli UB-14 first flew in 1934, the airfoil-section fuselage was the centre-section of the wing. The aircraft had twin tailbooms and a widespan tailplane and elevator fitted with twin fins and rudders. The UB-14 had retractable landing gear and was powered by two Pratt & Whitney radial engines. An enclosed cockpit for the crew of two was located on the centre wing's upper surface. The cabin held 14 to 18 passengers.

Operational history

Burnelli UB-14 Burnelli UB14 Wikipedia

The first prototype, UB-14, was destroyed in a 1935 accident attributed to faulty maintenance on the aileron control system. Burnelli then designed and built an improved version, the UB-14B. A modified version of the UB-14B design was built under licence in the United Kingdom by Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft, powered by two Bristol Perseus XIVC radials as the Cunliffe-Owen OA-1. A contemporary photo shows the mockup of the original UB-14B, to be built by Scottish Aviation before bankruptcy. This design was to have had streamline inline engines. The OA-1 used radial engines.

Burnelli UB-14 wwwaircrashorgorgBurnelli UB14

In September 1936, Burnelli applied to the CAA for approval to fly a transatlantic flight with Clyde Edward Pangborn as the selected pilot.

Burnelli UB-14 wwwaircrashorgorgBurnelli UB14

The Cunliffe-Owen failed its airworthiness certification due to excessive takeoff run and poor workmanship. It was performance tested at the A&AEE Boscombe Down in 1939.

Burnelli UB-14 Pinterest The world39s catalog of ideas

After appropriate work, in June 1941 Jim Mollison and an Air Transport Auxiliary crew delivered Cunliffe-Owen OA-1 G-AFMB to Fort Lamy, Chad. The aircraft was fitted out as a personal transport for General De Gaulle. It was later abandoned at Kabrit, and burned during VJ-Day celebrations.

Variants

  • UB-14 Prototype, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. Built by Burnelli Company. Destroyed 13 January 1935, without injury to those aboard.
  • UB-14B Second prototype with modifications. Built by Burnelli Company.
  • UB-14B Third prototype, modified from second unit. Built by Cunliffe Owen Aircraft in United Kingdom.

    • Specifications (UB-14B)

    General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Capacity: 14-18 passengers
  • Length: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
  • Wingspan: 71 ft 0 in (21.64 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
  • Wing area: 686 ft2 (63.73 m2)
  • Empty weight: 9,200 lb (4173 kg)
  • Gross weight: 17,500 lb (7938 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Hornet radial piston engines, 750 hp (560 kW) each each

    • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 210 mph (383 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 205 mph (330 km/h)
  • Range: 1240 miles (1996 km)
  • Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6705 m)

    • Airfoils:

  • Fuselage: NACA 4323
  • Exterior wing, root: NACA 2412
  • Exterior wing, tip: NACA 2409

    • References

    Burnelli UB-14 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA