Funk B

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 Model E engine developed from a Ford "B" motor-car engine. The prototype first flew in late 1933.Simpson, 2005, p. 141

When the test flights proved to be successful the brothers formed the Akron Aircraft Company 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 Funk Aircraft Company. 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.

File:Funk B85C N1654N OSH 28.07.10R edited-2.jpg

File:Funk Model B85C CF-HAR 01.JPG]]

File:Funk B75L (N284EW).jpg

File:FunkB-85-C-Engine.jpg engine]]

;Model B

:Prototype and initial production aircraft with Funk E 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).

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52 Bridgman 1951, p. 241c.

|prime units?=imp

|crew=2

|capacity=

|length m=

|length ft=20

|length in=1

|span m=

|span ft=35

|span in=0

|height m=

|height ft=6

|height in=1

|wing area sqm=

|wing area sqft=169

|airfoil=NACA 4412

|empty weight kg=

|empty weight lb=890

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=1350

|fuel capacity={{convert|20|USgal|abbr=on}}

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Continental C85-12

|eng1 type=four-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed engine

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=85

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=Lewis fixed pitch

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=115

|max speed note=at sea level

|cruise speed mph=100

|range km=

|range miles=350

|range note= with 30 minutes reserve

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=15000

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=800

|more performance=*Take-off run: 348 ft (107 m)

|avionics=

}}

{{aircontent

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|lists=

• List of military aircraft of the United States

|see also=

}}

{{reflist}}

• 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

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepFunk.html "We Fly the Funkiest (did we actually say that) Classic Around,"] by Budd Davisson, November 1990, Air Progress

{{USAF transports}}

B

Category:1930s United States sport aircraft

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

Category:High-wing aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1933

Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear