The Bohannon B-1 is a purpose-built aircraft to set new world records in its class for time-to-climb. It is a development of the
Van's RV-4.
Development
Bohannon and Miller built the
Miller-Bohannon JM-2 Pushy Galore to set new time to climb records and compete in Formula One air racing. Bohannon set out to continue time to climb records with a new aircraft. He acquired Exxon as a sponsor for record attempts. His B-1 was painted in a stylized tiger paint scheme and named the "Exxon Flyin' Tiger". The aircraft went on to set 30 altitude and time to climb records.
Design
The Bohannon B-1 is an all-metal single place,
low-wing
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...
aircraft with
conventional landing gear
Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Term ...
. The
Lycoming IO-540
The Lycoming O-540 is a family of air-cooled six-cylinder, horizontally opposed fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter engines of displacement, manufactured by Lycoming Engines. The engine is a six-cylinder version of the four-cylinder Lycoming O- ...
engine is augmented with
nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide (dinitrogen oxide or dinitrogen monoxide), commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous, or nos, is a chemical compound, an oxide of nitrogen with the formula . At room temperature, it is a colourless non-flammable gas, and has ...
to increase power from .
For 2001 attempts, a Lycoming IO-555 was installed.
Operational history
The B-1 has set, and beat, its own records several times. The B-1 operates in the FAI C-1b Class. (Piston aircraft ).
*1999 - Time to climb to record of 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
*2000 - Time to climb to - Six minutes, thirty seven seconds.
*2001 - Absolute ceiling for a piston engine aircraft - .
*2002 - Absolute ceiling -
*2002 - Time to climb to in 32 minutes, 2 seconds
*2002 - Absolute ceiling - .
*2003 - Absolute ceiling - 47,067 ft (14 346 m)
Specifications (Bohannon B-1)
See also
References
{{reflist, 30em
Homebuilt aircraft