Object ID:
2015.11.71
VE Exhibit Label 1:
Model BD-6
The Burgess Company Burgess-Dunne Model BD-6 was a two place, tandem, swept wing, tailless pusher biplane. Three were ordered by the U.S. Navy in May 1915. Three were built.
Model BD-6 was powered by a Sturtevant 5A 140 hp V-8 engine weighing 550 lbs. It had a span of 45', wing area 477 sq ft, length overall 20'2" with fuselage 16'9". It had a maximum weight of 2,900 lbs. It had a maximum speed of 80 mph with a climb rate of 250 fpm and endurance of four hours. Each had a price of $11,500.
Model BD-6's first flights were in December 1915 to Pensacola in the spring of 1916. Flight testing at Pensacola by Cliff Webster determined that these three aircraft although well streamlined and the most attractive Burgess-Dunne ever built, were unfortunately longitudinally unstable. They were particularly difficult to control in a dive. The Navy returned the three aircraft to the Burgess Company for modifications.
Problems were identified after wind tunnel testing at MIT. Burgess rebuilt the A-55 for re-positioning and re-shaping of the wing surfaces, the center of gravity was shifted, which fixed the fore and aft stability problem. However, the expense to fix the other two was too costly for the Navy. The end result was the cancellation of the order at less than the cost incurred by the Burgess Company.
U.S. Navy Serial #A-55 was accepted. A-54 and A-56 were not accepted and the contract funding for the required modifications was cancelled.
The Burgess Company Burgess-Dunne Model BD-6 was a two place, tandem, swept wing, tailless pusher biplane. Three were ordered by the U.S. Navy in May 1915. Three were built.
Model BD-6 was powered by a Sturtevant 5A 140 hp V-8 engine weighing 550 lbs. It had a span of 45', wing area 477 sq ft, length overall 20'2" with fuselage 16'9". It had a maximum weight of 2,900 lbs. It had a maximum speed of 80 mph with a climb rate of 250 fpm and endurance of four hours. Each had a price of $11,500.
Model BD-6's first flights were in December 1915 to Pensacola in the spring of 1916. Flight testing at Pensacola by Cliff Webster determined that these three aircraft although well streamlined and the most attractive Burgess-Dunne ever built, were unfortunately longitudinally unstable. They were particularly difficult to control in a dive. The Navy returned the three aircraft to the Burgess Company for modifications.
Problems were identified after wind tunnel testing at MIT. Burgess rebuilt the A-55 for re-positioning and re-shaping of the wing surfaces, the center of gravity was shifted, which fixed the fore and aft stability problem. However, the expense to fix the other two was too costly for the Navy. The end result was the cancellation of the order at less than the cost incurred by the Burgess Company.
U.S. Navy Serial #A-55 was accepted. A-54 and A-56 were not accepted and the contract funding for the required modifications was cancelled.
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BD-6 Cliff Webster Taxiing
BD-6 1916
BD-6 Cliff Webster In Cockpit
Burgess BD-6 1916
Burgess BD-6
BD-6 Cliff Webster Taxiing
BD-6 1916
BD-6 Cliff Webster In Cockpit
Burgess BD-6 1916
Burgess BD-6