American Business Review, March 15, 1930

AERONAUTICAL

Entirely new 20-passenger plane produced by Uppercu-Burnelli aircraft Corp.

Designed by a Vincent J. BURNELLI

In reviewing the second annual aviation show held recently in New York, there is no doubt but that the most interesting exhibit, and one which was surrounded all times by an interested crowd both of laymen and technical men, was that of the Uppercu-Burnelli aircraft Corp., which had on display a new 20-passenger plane design in completely new lines.

The machine is, in our opinion, one of the most important contributions to aircraft design made in some years. The most interesting feature is the design of the fuselage, which is incorporated with the wings in such a manner that it performs the functions of the wing, and adds a lift of more than 1500 pounds to the effective lifting wing area, instead of being deadweight, as other planes.

The craft is twin motored, one motor being on each side of the nose, or entering edge, of the fuselage. We have never before seen any plane with such a roomy cabin as the UB-20, the interior being more reminiscent of a Pullman car than an airplane. The chairs are big, and there's ample room between them, so that one could ride for long distances without feeling cramped.

The UB-20 has the highest percentage of useful of any heavier-than-air machine in use. It can lift more than its own weight, which is 9067 pounds empty, of which 4400 is designed for fuel and oil. The cruising radius is 1000 miles, and the ceiling is 17,000 feet. The maximum speed is 165 mph. The motors are 850 horse-power.

As we have said, there is no doubt that the UB-20 is the sensation of 1930 in the aviation world, and we anticipate the appearance of these machines in considerable numbers for mail, freight and passenger service. The plane was designed by Vincent J. Burnelli, one of the best-known in aviation circles today. It embodies many of Mr. Burnelli's own designs and inventions, and a large number of these transports are now under construction at the company's plant at Keyport, New Jersey.