Object ID:
2015.11.72
VE Exhibit Label 1:
Model BD-7
The Burgess Company Burgess-Dunne Model BD-7 was as two place, side by side, swept wing, tailless pusher biplane with a flying boat hull. It was ordered by Vincent Astor in March 1915 and two were built. Astor's original BD order was built and being flight tested when on May 5, 1915 it hit the Marblehead causeway seawall while attempting to land in Marblehead harbor. The pilot Clifford Webster and the mechanic on board Richard Korman survived without serious injuries. The Astor Burgess-Dunn was demolished. The work to build the replacement Burgess Dunne began immediately with a more traditional design with a central float replacing the flying boat hull.
The first flight of the new BD-7 was on August 13, 1915. It was delivered to Astor on August 19, 1915 at a price of $14,000.
It had a Sturtevant V-8 140 hp engine with a minimum speed of 40 mph, maximum speed of 70 mph and an endurance of four hours. It had unique four section wings, swept back at a compound angle of 30 degrees. It was a single float seaplane with wingtip floats, a span of 46'6", length 31' and a live load of 350 lbs.
Burgess Company also built a custom floating hangar for Astor that could be towed behind his yacht "Noma" to house and service the Burgess Dunne.
The Burgess Company Burgess-Dunne Model BD-7 was as two place, side by side, swept wing, tailless pusher biplane with a flying boat hull. It was ordered by Vincent Astor in March 1915 and two were built. Astor's original BD order was built and being flight tested when on May 5, 1915 it hit the Marblehead causeway seawall while attempting to land in Marblehead harbor. The pilot Clifford Webster and the mechanic on board Richard Korman survived without serious injuries. The Astor Burgess-Dunn was demolished. The work to build the replacement Burgess Dunne began immediately with a more traditional design with a central float replacing the flying boat hull.
The first flight of the new BD-7 was on August 13, 1915. It was delivered to Astor on August 19, 1915 at a price of $14,000.
It had a Sturtevant V-8 140 hp engine with a minimum speed of 40 mph, maximum speed of 70 mph and an endurance of four hours. It had unique four section wings, swept back at a compound angle of 30 degrees. It was a single float seaplane with wingtip floats, a span of 46'6", length 31' and a live load of 350 lbs.
Burgess Company also built a custom floating hangar for Astor that could be towed behind his yacht "Noma" to house and service the Burgess Dunne.
PDF File Attachment:
Click to Enlarge
BD-7 Astor
BD-7 Astor