Burnelli UB-20
Burnelli · United States · first flew 1930 · transport aircraft
The Burnelli UB-20 was a twin-engine American transport aircraft designed around Vincent Burnelli's distinctive lifting-fuselage concept, in which the broad rectangular fuselage contributes substantially to total lift.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Burnelli lifting-body fuselage generating significant aerodynamic lift |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Burnelli lifting-body fuselage generating significant aerodynamic lift
- Very wide rectangular fuselage cross-section, twin piston engines
- Single example of Vincent Burnelli's all-metal stressed-skin concept
The extraordinarily wide, flat fuselage — nearly as deep as it is wide and clearly aerodynamically shaped — makes the UB-20 unmistakable compared with conventional tube-fuselage transports of the 1930s.
Specifications
- The Burnelli UB-20 has a length of 15.85 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 27.46 m (90 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 266 km/h (165 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 + up to 20 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built in the early 1930s as part of Burnelli's long campaign to promote the lifting-fuselage principle, the UB-20 demonstrated the concept in all-metal stressed-skin construction. Only one example was completed, and despite its technical interest it failed to attract airline orders.
Variants
No production variants; a single prototype only.
Where you'll see it
The UB-20 did not enter commercial or military service.
Related aircraft
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