To those who say that Burnelli’s lifting body or blended wing body of the 20s, 30s and 40s has no use in the modern world, I say neither does the triplane.
The whole point being missed by those who only think within the box, is that designers move with the times, and Burnelli was no slouch in that department.
Let’s just look at his lifting body designs, forget everything he did before that and forget his 92 patents.
Not all of the following aircraft were built, but it must be quite obvious to anyone that Burnelli’s designs did keep up with the times.
His first BWB/lifting body design, RB-1 was built in 1921:
1924 saw the flight of his RB-2:
By 1927, he moved to monoplane with the CB-16 and retractable u/c:
In 1929, the odd looking, but functional GX-3 took to the air with winglets:
The UB-20 was carrying a car in 1930:
1934, UB-14:
In 1939, the Burnelli A-1 bomber won the competition based on performance, but wasn’t awarded a contract:
Another 1939 design to win the bomber competition, but not awarded a contract, X-BAB-3:
Cunliffe Owen OA-1, 1940 (not the Clyde Clipper):
1942, B-1000:
1946, CBY-3:
1947, Burnelli fighter:
1951 Transport:
1952 Car ferry:
Last, but by no means least, his last effort before his death in 1964, the GB-888A:
All photos linked from http://www.aircrash.org
And we wondered why so few people were interested in Wot Plane at the other place? 🙁
It might be a good idea to start again, with something more interesting to whet the appetites of the many resident experts here?
Something like this?
I know it’s an easy one, you IDd it within a few minutes when it was first posted in July.
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