Funk B

Funk Model B
Role	Two-seat cabin monoplane
Manufacturer	;
Designer	Howard and Joe Funk
First flight	1933
Number built	380

The Funk Model B was a 1930s American two-seat cabin monoplane designed by Howard and Joe Funk. Originally built by the later renamed .

Development[]

The Model B was the first powered aircraft designed by brothers Howard and Joe Funk, whose previous experience was in homebuilt gliders and sailplanes. The Model B was a strut-braced high-wing monoplane with a conventional tail unit and fixed tailwheel landing gear. The design uses mixed construction with fabric-covered wooden wings and a welded steel-tube fuselage. The aircraft was powered by the brothers' own engine developed from a Ford "B" motor-car engine. The prototype first flew in late 1933.^[1]

Production and operations[]

When the test flights proved to be successful the brothers formed the in 1939 to build the Funk B. After production began, the engine was changed to a 75 hp (56 kW) Lycoming GO-145-C2 horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine and was re-designated the Model B-75-L.

In 1941 the company moved from Akron to Kansas and the company was renamed the . Production was stopped during the Second World War and one aircraft was impressed into service in 1942 with the United States Army Air Corps as the UC-92.

After the war in 1946 production was resumed using a Continental C85-12 engine and the aircraft was redesignated the Model B-85-C and named the Bee. It did not sell well and production was halted in 1948. 380 aircraft of all variants had been built.

Variants[]

1948-built Funk B85C at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 2010

Funk B85C in the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum

Funk B85L

B-85-C Continental C85-12 engine

Model B: Prototype and initial production aircraft with engine.
Model B-75-L: Pre-war production aircraft with a 75hp (56 kW) Avco Lycoming GO-145-C2 piston engine.
Model B-85-C Bee: Post-war production aircraft with a Continental C85-12 engine.
UC-92: Army designation for one impressed Model B-75-L (s/n 42-79548).

Specifications (B-85-C)[]

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 20 ft 1 in (6.12 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Wing area: 169 sq ft (15.7 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 4412
Empty weight: 890 lb (404 kg)
Gross weight: 1,350 lb (612 kg)
Fuel capacity: 20 US gal (76 l; 17 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85-12 four-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed engine, 85 hp (63 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed Lewis fixed pitch

Performance

Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn) at sea level
Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
Range: 350 mi (560 km, 300 nmi) with 30 minutes reserve
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
Take-off run: 348 ft (107 m)

References[]

^ Simpson, 2005, p. 141
^ Bridgman 1951, p. 241c.

Bibliography[]

John Andrade, U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0-904597-22-9 (Page 171)
Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd, 1951.
Simpson, Rod, Airlife's World Aircraft, 2001, Airlife Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-84037-115-3 (Page 248)
Simpson, Rod. The General Aviation Handbook. 2005. Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-222-5
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing

External links[]

[1] Simpson, 2005, p. 141

[jawa51_p241c-2] Bridgman 1951, p. 241c.

[1]

[2]

v t United States military transport aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems
Army/Air Force sequence (1925-1962)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20 C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-28 C-29 C-30 C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34 C-35 C-36 C-37 C-38 C-39 C-40 C-41 A C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46 C-47 F T AC-47 C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-55 C-56 C-57 C-58 C-59 C-60 C-61 C-62 C-63 C-64 C-65 C-66 C-67 C-68 C-69 C-70 B C-71 C-72 C-73 C-74 C-75 C-76 C-77 B-D C-78 C-79 C-80 C-81 C-82 C-83 A B C-84 C-85 C-86 C-87 C-88 C-89 C-90 C-91 C-92 C-93 C-94 C-95 C-96 C-97 KC-97 C-98 C-99 C-100 C-101 C-102 C-103 C-104 C-105 C-106 C-107 C-108 C-109 C-110 C-111 C-112 C-113 C-114 C-115 C-116 C-117 D C-118 C-119 AC-119 C-120 C-121 F C-122 C-123 A C-124 C-125 C-126 C-127 (I) C-127 (II) C-128 C-129 C-130 J AC-130 DC-130 EC-130/H HC-130 KC-130 LC-130 MC-130 WC-130 C-131 C-132 C-133 C-134 C-135 KC-135 C-136 C-137 C-138¹ C-139¹ C-140 C-141 C-142
Tri-service sequence (1962-present)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 B C-8 C-9 C-10 (I) C-10 (II) C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16¹ C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20A-D F-H C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 J C-28 C-29 C-30¹ C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34¹ C-35 C-36 C-37A B C-38 C-39¹ C-40 C-41 C-42¹ C-43¹ C-44¹ C-45 C-46
Revived original sequence (2005-present)	C-143 C-144 C-145 C-146 C-147
Non-sequential designations	C-767 C-880
Related designations	CT-39 CT-43 CV-2 CV-7
¹ Not assigned