Burgess-Dunne AH-7
Burgess Company · United States · first flew 1914 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Burgess-Dunne AH-7 was an American-built licence version of J.W. Dunne's inherently stable tailless swept biplane, configured as a floatplane for U.S. Navy evaluation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tailless swept biplane flying-wing layout — virtually no conventional fuselage or tail |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tailless swept biplane flying-wing layout — virtually no conventional fuselage or tail
- Floatplane undercarriage with twin main floats
- Strongly anhedral swept wing panels giving a distinctive arrowhead planform
The unmistakable arrowhead planform with no tail unit and strongly swept biplane wings is unique for the period; twin floats beneath and a pusher or tractor engine complete the picture.
Specifications
- The Burgess-Dunne AH-7 has a length of 7.9 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.3 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 120 km/h (75 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
John William Dunne's swept-wing tailless designs attracted wide interest for their natural stability — a pilot could release the controls and the aircraft would recover unaided. The Burgess Company of Massachusetts acquired a licence and produced several variants for U.S. military trials beginning around 1914. The AH-7 was the seaplane adaptation evaluated by the U.S. Navy. Though praised for stability, the concept was not pursued operationally.
Variants
The Burgess-Dunne family included wheeled landplane variants (AH-6) and this floatplane AH-7 for naval use.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the U.S. Navy but not adopted for operational service; the AH-7 remained a research and demonstration aircraft.
Related aircraft
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