Remington Burnelli RB-2

The Remington Burnelli RB-2 was a 1920s American twin-engined biplane freighter or airliner, designed by Vincent Burnelli with a lifting body fuselage. At the time it was the world's largest commercial freighter. It was the first aircraft to carry a motor car inside its fuselage.

RB-2
Role	Biplane freighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Burnelli
Designer	Vincent Burnelli
First flight	1924
Number built	1
Developed from	Burnelli RB-1

Design and development

The RB-2 was based on the earlier RB-1 airliner, it had improved control surfaces and was powered by two 650 hp Galloway Atlantic piston engines.^[1] It had a corrugated metal construction with a dural skin giving it an empty weight of 5 tons.^[1] The passenger cabin could be fitted with 25 seats or used for freight.^[1]

In 1925 the aircraft was used by the Hudson Motor Car Company as a flying showroom for the Essex automobile.^[2]

Specifications

Data from "The Remington–Burnelli Airliner" 1926, p.506, and as noted

General characteristics

• Length: 134 ft 6 in (41 m)
• Wingspan: 78 ft (24 m)
• Wing area: 1,517 sq ft (140.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,450 lb (4,286 kg)
• Gross weight: 15,600 lb (7,076 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Galloway Atlantic^[3] liquid cooled, 12-cylinder V engine, 500 hp (370 kW) each