The Birth of the Burgess Twin-Hydro
In 1912, William S. Burgess (William Starling Burgess) and Howard W. Gill converted the Burgess-Wright Model F aircraft into a seaplane, named the Burgess Twin-Hydro or Burgess-Gill. The aircraft’s powerplant featured a 60-horsepower eight-cylinder Hall-Scott engine, driving two 1.8-meter pulling propellers, and an auxiliary 30-horsepower four-cylinder Wright engine, rotating two pushing propellers of the same diameter.
In May 1912, the Burgess Twin-Hydro, piloted by Howard Gill, took to the air for its inaugural flight. This aircraft marked a significant milestone, becoming the first American twin-engine seaplane and pioneering new possibilities in naval aviation.
Development of the Burgess Twin Seaplane
In December 1916, the U.S. Army commissioned the Burgess Company to construct thirty-two reconnaissance seaplanes for coastal patrol duties, using the Twin-Hydro as a foundational design. The prototype for this new aircraft, designated the Burgess Twin Seaplane, made its first flight on August 1, 1917.
This was a two-seat, two-bay biplane, powered by two 140-horsepower Sturtevant 5A V-8 engines. Plans were made to equip an additional fifteen production aircraft with these same engines, while sixteen others were to receive 125-horsepower Hispano-Suiza engines, manufactured under license by the Wright Company.
An Unexpected Fate
Later that month, the seaplane was delivered to the U.S. Army at a cost of $26,822 and assigned serial number SC-332. However, around this time, a reassessment of army aviation’s role began, leading to the transfer of coastal reconnaissance functions to naval aviation.
Consequently, the contract with the Burgess Company was cut short to just one aircraft. The sole Burgess Twin Seaplane built was then transferred to the U.S. Navy at the submarine base in New London, Connecticut, where it was utilized for developing anti-submarine operations.
Image and diagram gallery of the Burgess Twin Seaplane
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