American Aviation Historical Society
RETURN TO LIST
VINCENT JUSTUS BURNELLI
Born: November 22, In: Temple, TX
Died: June 22, In: Southampton, NY
After graduating from St Peters College (NJ), Vincent Justus Burnelli soloed a glider in to claim his spot in the sky. With friend John Carisi in , he designed and built his first airplane at Maspeth NY. Next came a combat plane that he hoped would be used in WW1, which was not to be, but the NYC Police Department bought it for their new aerial police operation. In he designed what was likely the world’s first successful large commercial transport, the Lawson Airliner, but dissatisfaction with his own design -- he called it a "streetcar with wings" -- put him on a path to the future from which he would not stray.
The Lawson’s bulky boxlike fuselage stirred visions of a more streamlined shape that could also serve as an airfoil, and the first practical concept of a lifting body, where all major aeronautical components were housed within the airfoil, was born in his RB-1 of A design patent filed in January took nine years to be issued, but it was a
Robert Novells’ Third Dimension Blog
Burnelli was born in Temple, Texas, on November 22, and attended public schools in Temple and in Monterrey, Mexico, before moving east to spend three years studying at St. Peter’s College in New Jersey. From his early youth, Burnelli showed an interest in aviation. He first learned to fly gliders on Staten Island, N.Y., in , and graduated to piloting powered aircraft in Lincoln, Neb., in
Designing aircraft, rather than flying them, was Burnelli’s greatest passion. Along with friend John Carisi, he first began experimenting with gliders in By , the pair had produced their first powered design which was an open biplane they built in Queens, N. Y. They tested it at the Hempstead Plains Airfield, which was later to gain much greater fame in aviation history as Long Island’s Roosevelt Field. Always concerned about practicality, Burnelli and his partner wasted no time putting their creation to work. We used it for barnstorming, Burnelli later recalled of his first design. You could make $ to $1, in those days working a fair, and that was big money.
World War I created a great demand for aviation know-how, and Burnelli used the opportunity
The open biplane was first demonstrated at the old Hempstead Plains Aviation Field, which was later to become Roosevelt Field.
A few years later he designed a "night fighter" in the hope that it would be used in the First World War combat. His hopes were not realized but he did sell the plane to the New York City Police Department, when plans were made to create an aerial police operation. In , Mr Burnelli changed his views about aircraft design, after he had turned out what is believed to have been the world's first large commercial airliner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Lawson Airlines.
In reminiscing about his creation, Mr. Burnelli said that he was
Vincent Justus Burnelli (November 22, – June 22, ) was an American aeronautics engineer, instrumental in furthering the lifting body and flying wing concept.
Biography
Burnelli was born on November 22, , in Temple, Texas.
With his friend, John Carisi, he designed his first airplane in , at Maspeth, Queens, New York. The open biplane was first demonstrated at the old Hempstead Plains Aviation Field, later to become Roosevelt Field. A few years later, he designed a "night fighter" in the hopes that it would be used as a combat aircraft in World War I. His hopes were not realized, but he did sell the plane to the New York City Police Department, when plans were made to create an aerial police operation.
In , Burnelli refined his ideas about aircraft design, after he had built what is believed to have been the world's first large commercial airliner, the Lawson L-4, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the Lawson Airlines.
Flying wing/lifting body
Logo of V. J. Burnelli Aircraft ConstructionBurnelli was one of the first American designers to capitalize on the "flying wing" mystique. In the s, he produced two biplane transports with la
Biographies you may also like
Terry adams bmx biography of mahatma gandhi After winning an X Games gold medal in , Terry received the most prestigious awards in his sport—Ride BMX Magazine's Number One Ride Award. He has since gone on to win the .
Michaels elia kamal biography of george Buried next to his mother and sister in Highgate Cemetery, George Michael went from chart-topping icon to drug and alcohol addiction, and early death. His final project, .
Lucrecia reyes urtula biography definition Lucrecia Faustino Reyes-Urtula (June 29, – August 4, ) was a Filipino choreographer, theater director, teacher, author and researcher on ethnic g: definition.
Lionel messi documentary showtime at the apollo The series follows Lionel Messi's triumphant career, his overall impact on football and shows his journey of highs and lows with the Argentina national football team across five World Cups, .
Aron paramore biography Explore Paramore's music on Billboard. Get the latest news, biography, and updates on the artist.
Artcurial dina vierny biography At a time when it was still confoundingly hard for women artists to get established, in one in three galleries in Paris were actually run by women. Often referred to as the “Papesses de l’art Missing: artcurial.
Les 3 graces picasso biography Pablo Picasso, The Three Graces, , pen and black ink on wove paper, x cm, National Gallery of Canada.
Walt disney graphic biography Growing up, Walt loved to draw, paint, and sell his pictures to his neighbors, family, and friends. During high school, Walt took several drawing and painting classes. He was also a cartoonist .