Burnelli UB-14

{{Infobox aircraft |name=UB-14 |image=Burnelli UB-14 photo Le Pontentiel Aérien Mondial 1936.jpg |caption= |type= Civil transport |manufacturer= Burnelli |designer= Vincent Burnelli |first_flight= 1934 |introduction= |retired= |status= |primary_user= |more_users= |produced= |number_built= 3 |developed_from= |variants= |developed_into= Burnelli CBY-3 }}

The '''Burnelli UB-14''' and a developed variant named '''OA-1 Clyde Clipper''' were 1930s American prototype lifting-fuselage airliners designed by Vincent Burnelli, who was responsible for constructing the first two examples.

==Design and development== Following on from his earlier designs Vincent Burnelli designed a commercial transport version using the lifting-fuselage concept. Burnelli's designs were based on the idea that an airfoil-section fuselage could contribute to the lift generated. The '''Burnelli UB-14''' first flew in 1934, and had an airfoil-section fuselage that formed the centre-section of the wing. The aircraft had twin tailbooms and a widespan tailplane and elevator fitted with twin fins and rudders. The UB-14 had retractable landing gear and was powered by two Pratt & Whitney radial engines. An enclosed cockpit for the crew of two was located on the centre wing's upper surface. The cabin could hold 14 to 18 passengers.

==Operational history== The first prototype, '''UB-14''', was destroyed in a 1935 accident attributed to faulty maintenance on the aileron control system.<ref>[https://www.burnelliaircraft.com/wp/about "About".] ''Burnelli successor company''. Retrieved: November 28, 2015.</ref> Burnelli then designed and built an improved version, the '''UB-14B'''. An extensively modified version of the UB-14B design was built under licence in the United Kingdom by Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft, powered by two Bristol Perseus XIVC radials as the '''Cunliffe-Owen OA-1 Clyde Clipper'''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=_toDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA672 "Fast Air Liner To Compete In Atlantic Race."] ''Popular Mechanics'', May 1937.</ref> The UB-14B was to have been built by Scottish Aviation, but with more streamlined inline engines.

Burnelli applied to the CAA for approval to fly a transatlantic flight with Clyde Edward Pangborn as the pilot in September 1936,<ref>"Ocean hop planned in metal airplane." ''The Washington Post'', September 17, 1936.</ref> however it failed its airworthiness certification due to an excessively long takeoff run and poor quality control. Its performance was later tested at A&AEE Boscombe Down in 1939.<ref>Mason 2010, p. 242.</ref>thumb|The Perseus XIVc-powered Cunliffe-Owen O.A.1 in July 1939

After appropriate work, in June 1941 Jim Mollison and an Air Transport Auxiliary crew delivered the Cunliffe-Owen OA-1, now registered as G-AFMB to Fort Lamy, Chad. It was then fitted out as a personal transport for General De Gaulle. At one time it landed in Vichy France while en route to Fort Lamy.<ref>''Joss, D.A.'' [https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1965/1965%20-%202447.PDF "Flying Wing" Recollection], ''Flight International'', 13 May 1965, pp. 750–751.</ref> It was later abandoned at RAF Kabrit in Egypt, and burned during VJ-Day celebrations.<ref>''Aeroplane Monthly'' June 2006 p.95 with two bw plates</ref>

==Variants== ;UB-14 :Prototype, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines, registered as NX14740. Built by Burnelli Company. Destroyed 13 January 1935, without injury. ;UB-14B :Second prototype with modifications, registered as NC15320. Built by Burnelli Company. Exported to Nicaragua in 1943 as AN-ABH. ;OA-1 :Third prototype, registered as G-AFMB, built by Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft under licence with further modifications, in the United Kingdom.

==Specifications (UB-14B)== thumb|Burnelli UB-14 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile February 1936 {{Aircraft specs |prime units? = imp |crew=two |capacity=14–18 passengers |length ft=44|length in=0 |span ft=71|span in=0 |height ft=10|height in=0 |wing area sqft=686 |airfoil=<br> ** Fuselage: NACA 4323<ref name=Flight1936>Flight magazine, 1936 / pg. 1591</ref> ** Outer wing root: NACA 2412<ref name=Flight1936/> ** Outer wing tip: NACA 2409<ref name=Flight1936/> |empty weight lb=9,200 |gross weight lb=17,500 |eng1 number=2|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney Hornet radial piston engines|eng1 hp=750 |max speed mph=210 |cruise speed mph=205 |range miles=1240 |ceiling ft=22,000 }}

==See also== {{aircontent |related= * Burnelli CBY-3

|similar aircraft= * Buscaylet-de Monge 7-5 * Dyle et Bacalan DB-10 * Dyle et Bacalan DB-70 * Kalinin K-7 * SAB AB-20 |lists= |see also= }}

==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{Refbegin}} * ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)''. London: Orbis Publishing, 1986. * Mason, Tim. ''The Secret Years: Flight Testing at Boscombe Down, 1939–1945''. Crowborough, UK: Hikoki Publications, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-9021-0914-5}}. {{Refend}}

==External links== {{commons category|Burnelli UB-14}} *[http://www.aircrash.org/burnelli/ch_ub14.htm Photographs of the Burnelli UB-14] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218150506/http://www.aircrash.org/burnelli/ch_ub14.htm |date=2012-02-18 }}

UB-14 Category:1930s United States airliners Category:Lifting bodies Category:High-wing aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1934 Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft Category:Cunliffe-Owen aircraft