In the mid-1930s, engineer Bob Merrill began designing a new transport aircraft. For its construction, he chose “Duraloid,” an innovative material developed by Professor Dr. Robert Nebesar, which consisted of plywood impregnated with bakelite.
To fund the aircraft’s construction, Merrill brought in oil magnate Frank K. Bennett. Together, they founded Bennett Aircraft Co. in Fort Worth, Texas.
Development Team
The new company’s design bureau included not only Merrill but also talents like Vance Breese, Art Mankey from Glenn L. Martin, Walter Chaffee from Douglas Aircraft, and William Harvey Bowlus.
In 1937, the development team completed the construction of the BTC-1 prototype at William Bowlus’s ranch in San Fernando. It was then transported disassembled to Van Nuys airfield, where the machine successfully passed its initial tests.
Design and Specifications
The BTC-1 was an eight-seater, cantilever mid-wing monoplane. It was equipped with two seven-cylinder Jacobs L-5 radial engines, each producing 285 hp, though more powerful engines up to 400 hp were planned for production models.
Six passengers were accommodated in a closed cabin, and if necessary, a seventh could take a seat in the cockpit near the pilot, optimizing its transport capacity.
Fate and Legacy
In November 1937, the BTC-1 was officially registered and received the number N18690. To the great disappointment of its developers, extensive advertising for the aircraft yielded no results, and not a single contract was concluded.
In 1940, Bennett Aircraft Co. went bankrupt. The BTC-1 was acquired by Globe Aircraft, which renamed it the Globe BTC-1. According to various sources, the aircraft continued to fly until 1947 or 1948.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | BTC-1 |
| Wingspan, m | 14.68 |
| Length, m | 9.30 |
| Height, m | 2.87 |
| Wing area, m2 | 28.00 |
| Empty weight | 2048 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 3133 |
| Engine type | 2 Piston engine Jacobs L-5 |
| Power, hp | 2 x 285 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 332 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 315 |
| Practical range, km | 1931 |
| Rate of climb, m/min | 450 |
| Service ceiling, m | 6860 |
| Crew, crew members | 1 |
| Payload | 7 passengers |
Image and diagram gallery of the BTC-1
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