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. "The contributions of Vincent Justus Burnelli" (PDF). Retrieved 8 December 2012.
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.