Flight, August 1930

THE BURNELLI "ALL-WING" AIR-LINER

   PERFORMANCE tests have recently been carried out at Roosevelt Field, N.Y., with the new 20-passenger "all-wing" Burnelli monoplane, type UB-20. These have been conducted by Roger Q. Williams, who accomplished the New York-Bermuda-New York non-stop flight a little while back.
   The Burnelli machine should already be familiar to readers of FLIGHT, for we described a previous model in our issues for March 7 and March 28, 1929, and the new model, UB-20, which we illustrate here, is similar to it. Although described as an “all-wing" machine, we think "all-lift" would be a better term for the outstanding feature of this machine - which is, it will be remembered, its aerofoil-section fuselage. This, in the UB-20, gives a lift of 5 lb. per sq. ft., and thus contributes over 1,500 lb. lift to the total lift of the machine.
   A further advantage of this aerofoil-fuselage is the extra large space (12 ft. by 18 ft.) it affords for passenger accommodation resulting in additional comfort for the passengers. In fact the cabin of the Burnelli machine is more like a hotel lounge, with tables, comfortable arm-chairs, and settees.
   Performance data of the UB-20 so far compiled has proved very satisfactory; the machine has shown a low landing speed of 55 m.p.h., a cruising speed of 120 m.p.h., and a maximum speed of 145 m.p.h. This latter will be considerably increased, as the airscrews fitted during the tests were set for 1,800 r.p.m., whereas the two Packard direct drive engines employed in this machine are designed for 2,100 r.p.m.
   The average time for take-off was 8 seconds with a run of less than 150 yards. It will be noticed that the Goodyear Musselman "air wheels" are fitted - the largest yet used - and we understand that these have proved very satisfactory.
   A number of these Burnelli machines are now under construction at the Keyport, New Jersey, factory.