Hi everyone, [:)]
The faded aluminum hulk sitting between the Caribou and the Skycrane, what is it?
Don’t think I’ve seen one of these before, does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Frank
is that the C-2 Tracker or a version of?
…wish there was more of it in the pic
Yes, a better picture would be nice, but this was the only one I could find.
The front end kinda has a Tracker profile, but I’ve never heard of a version with such huge wing roots as this one has, and, the engine firewalls are even with the cockpit. Strange configuration for sure.
Frank
it certainly is a strange one you found here, Frank. I was drawn to the forward section of the cockpit/windscreen but then the…biggie… was the the engine nacelles and how they extended behind the wing. [Why it had a blunt nose and bigger wing roots?]
Brian
It’s a Bernelli CBY-3 Loadmaster.
-Bret
Ahhh… the mystery is solved, thanks Bret!! [:)]
Learn something new every day, and the Forums are a great place to make that happen! [tup]
Take care,
Frank
I googled Bernelli CBY-3 Loadmaster and came up with absolutely nothing, even on Dogpile. I mean not one entry. Way to go Bret! Where did you get the info?
It is a Burnelli CBY-3. Very unusual design - probably too far ahead of its time. There is one on display at the New Engand Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT, which is also where I believe the original message’s photo was taken.
http://www.neam.org/inventory/airprofile.asp?ID=14
Martin
The spelling did make a big difference in my last search. Check this link out:
It would also seem that Burnelli could claim fame as the developer of the first lifting body or flying wing.
Right, sorry I meant Burnelli.
Not to be confused with Bernoulli.
-Bret
The one at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks. Conn. is the last surviving one of its kind according to the museum’s web site. I wish they would restore it or at least move it inside. It was in pretty bad shape when I saw it.
I think there was only one ever built. It was fitted originally with engines and props out of a DC-3. It was to be upgraded to engines from a B-25, but never happened. It doesn’t seem to be a priority for the NEAM – it’s been languishing there for a long time apparently. Ultimately in the scheme of things, a pretty minor player.
As far as how I knew what it was _ I must have read an article in some magazine years ago about it. I designed and made a scratch scale model of a much upgraded version of this, a “Super Loadmaster” if you will when I was a kid for – not sure which now, Aviation merit badge or maybe it was for an engineering class in high school. I remember mine had R-2800’s and used spoilers for roll control and had full span flaps and drooping ailerons. In hindsight, it had so much frontal area (because I thougt if alittle lifting body os good, a lot must better) that it ouwld probably have needed 10 -2800’s to get airborne! Plus, it was so wide that the gear track could never have fit on any but the biggest of airfields–it was supposed to be a STOL plane. There were other problems, but I can’t recall them now. It was a lot of fun to design and brainstorm though . . .
Thanks, this is very interesting and educational!
Wouldn’t that look good in 1/72 scale sitting on your shelf? [;)] (it sure would on mine, especially beside my Savoia S-55X)
Bret,
I bet you’d still like to have that “Super Loadmaster” now! [:)] I carved an F-86 out of balsa for my Merit Badge, but that was nothing compared to tail booms and multi engines! I don’t even know what happened to mine, nor did I realize then what that project would blossom into one day. [tup]
Take care,
Frank
I read the websites info on this plane. Its a shame what happened to Burnelli. He was a true inovator in short sighted world. A lot of magazine covers depict his ideas but no credit is ever given to his work. If true, NEAM has no plans to restore the aircraft nor will they sell it, even to the Burnellis. What a shame.