Baumann Brigadier

The Baumann Brigadier was a prototype American light transport aircraft of the late 1940s. It was a twin-engined monoplane, which, unusually, was of pusher configuration. Only two were built, plans for production never coming to fruition.

B-290 Brigadier
Role Light transport
National origin United States
Manufacturer Baumann Aircraft Corporation
Designer Jack Boyer Baumann
First flight June 1947
Number built 2
Developed into Custer CCW-5

Development and design

Jack Baumann, who had worked for the Taylor Aircraft Company (later to become Piper Aircraft) and Lockheed,[1][2] set up the Baumann Aircraft Corporation in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California in 1945.[3] His first design for the new company was the B-250 Brigadier, a twin-engined pusher monoplane intended as an executive transport. It was of all-metal construction, with cantilever shoulder mounted wings, and with the pusher engines mounted in nacelles on the wing. An enclosed cabin accommodated a pilot and four passengers, while the aircraft was fitted with a retractable nosewheel undercarriage.[3]

The first prototype, powered by two 125 hp (93 kW) engines (hence the B-250 designation) flew on 20 June 1947.[4] Piper Aircraft was interested in building a tractor version of the Brigadier, and purchased the B-250 prototype and its drawings, designating it the PA-21,[4][5] with some sources [4] claiming that the B-250 formed the basis of the Piper Apache, although other sources state that Piper abandoned work on the PA-21 and that the Apache was unrelated.[5]

Baumann continued development of the pusher Brigadier, with the second example, the B-290, being fitted with 145 hp (108 kW) Continental C-145 engines but was otherwise similar to the B-250. The B-290, registered N90616, crash-landed at Pacoima on January 8, 1953, heavily damaging the fuselage and injuring pilot Ward C. Vettel and flight engineer Thomas Cox.[6] Production at a rate of one aircraft per month was planned for the B-290.[3] The Brigadier was chosen by Willard Ray Custer as the basis of his Custer CCW-5, which used the fuselage and tail of the Brigadier, but had a modified wing with the engines sitting in U-shaped ducts,[7] but other than the two CCW-5s no production of the B-290 followed. Baumann continued to propose more powerful versions of the Brigadier, but no airframes resulted.[4]

Variants
B-250 Brigadier
Initial prototype. Two 125 hp (93 kW) engines.
B-290 Brigadier
More powerful second prototype (two 145 hp (108 kW) engines).
B-360 Brigadier
Planned version with 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming engines.[8]
B-480 Super Brigadier
Planned enlarged version with 240 hp (180 kW) Continental O-470 engines.[8]
Piper PA-21
Tractor-engined version, abandoned.

Specifications (B-290)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54.[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 4 passengers
  • Length: 27 ft 5 in (8.36 m)
  • Wingspan: 41 ft (12 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m)
  • Wing area: 207 sq ft (19.2 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 78 US gallons (300 L)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Continental C145-H air-cooled Flat-six engine, 145 hp (108 kW) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Sensenich

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 190 mph (310 km/h, 170 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 165 mph (266 km/h, 143 kn) (75% power)
  • Stall speed: 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn) (power on)
  • Range: 750 mi (1,210 km, 650 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,250 ft/min (6.4 m/s)

See also

Related development

Notes
  1. Horsman, Eugene, "The Mercury Story". Aerofiles. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  2. Mondey 1978, p.92.
  3. Bridgman 1953, p.198.
  4. "American airplanes: Ba – Bl". Aerofiles. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  5. Shumaker, Dan. "Piper PA-23". 1000 Aircraft Photos. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  6. "University of Southern California".
  7. Bridgman 1953,p.221.
  8. "Business and Touring Aircraft...United States". Flight, 10 October 1958,p.582.

References
  • Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54. London:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1953.
  • Mondey, David. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London:Hamlyn Publishing, 1978. ISBN 0-600-30378-0.

Further reading
  • Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1947). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. p. 179c.
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