Brunner-Winkle Bird Explained

The Brunner-Winkle Bird was a three-seat taxi and joy-riding aircraft produced in the US from 1928 to 1931.

Design and operation

The Model A version was powered by the ubiquitous Curtiss OX-5, and featured a welded steel-tube truss fuselage with metal and fabric skinning. The wings, constructed of Spruce and plywood were also covered with metal and fabric skinning. The Model A had a reasonable performance for an OX-5 powered aircraft. The Model A's ease of handling led to its entry into the 1929 Guggenheim Safety Airplane contest, where it was awarded the highest ratings for a standard production aircraft.^[1]

The Model A was awarded Group 2 approval no 2-33 in January 1929 for the first nine aircraft serial no. 1000 to 1008. Aircraft serial no. 1009 upwards were manufactured under Air Transport Certificate no. 101.^{[2] [1]}

The Model B followed on from the initial Bird design and was fitted with the uncowled Kinner radial engine. Production aircraft were designated BK.^[1]

Variants

Data from: aerofiles.com^[3]

Model A:original production version with Curtiss OX-5 engine (ca. 80 built)

Model AT:version with Milwaukee Tank engine (2 converted from Model A)

Model B:version with Kinner K-5 engine (1 prototype)

Model BK:production version of Model B (84 built)

Model C:version with Wright J-5 engine (1 built)

Model CC:version with Curtiss R-600 Challenger engine (1 built)

Model CJ:version with Jacobs LA-1 engine (6 built)

Model CK:version with Kinner B-5 engine (50 built)

Model RK:export version of Model CK (1 built)

Model E:4-5 seat version with enclosed cabin and Kinner B-5 engine (1 built)

Model F:version with Packard DR-980 (1 built)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

(Partial listing, only covers most numerous types)

• Alexander Eaglerock
• American Eagle A-101
• Buhl-Verville CA-3 Airster
• Butler Blackhawk
• Command-Aire 3C3
• Parks P-1
• Pitcairn Mailwing
• Spartan C3
• Stearman C2 and C3
• Swallow New Swallow
• Travel Air 2000 and 4000
• Waco 10

Related lists

• List of aircraft
• List of civil aircraft

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Web site: Yanks Air Museum. 22 December 2019.
• Photos of Brunner-Winkle Bird

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Brunner Winkle Bird at the Cradle of Aviation Museum . Talmage . John . www.cradleofaviation.org . 21 September 2018.
2. Book: Juptner . Joseph J. . U.S. civil aircraft series:Vol.2 . 1 May 1993 . TAB AERO . 978-0830643677 . 9 . registration .
3. Web site: Aircraft Ba-Bl . aerofiles.com . 2008-10-19.