W. Starling Burgess : Massachusetts Aviation Pioneer
Object ID:
2015.11.78
VE Exhibit Label 1:
Model S Navy School Trainer
The Burgess Company Model S Navy School Trainer was a tractor hydro biplane designed by Burgess. It was ordered in December 1915 with its first flight on March 6, 1916. There were six built. A-70 was delivered to Pensacola in March 1916 for acceptance testing. The five remaining aircraft had new engines installed and other modifications as a result of the A-70 tests which were made at the factory. These were shipped in October and November 1916 and in February and March 1917 for flight training assignments. They were equipped with Deperdussin controls.

The Model S Navy School Trainer was a two place, tandem and was equipped with two floats. Factory installed Curtiss OXX V-8 100 hp engines were replaced by the higher performance Hall-Scott A-5 6 cyl 120 hp engines. They had a minimum speed of 41 mph, a maximum speed of 73 mph, a rate of climb of 400 fpm and four hour endurance.. The span was 46'6", length 30', live load 750 lbs and a gross weight of 2,500 lbs.

By March 1919 all six Model S tractors were stricken from the Navy list. U.S. Navy Serial # AH-25 was changed to A-70. The next five accepted were assigned A-71 through A-75.
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Burgess Model S A-73Burgess Model S A-73
Burgess Model SBurgess Model S