Biemond Teal CB-1

Allied Aviation Trimmer (NX41853) (Walter van Tilborg Collection)

Registered NX41853 and fitted with two 75 hp engines, the Trimmer light amphibian flying-boat prototype was flown in 1945.

Follwing is the description of the Allied Aviation Trimmer:

Wings: High-wing cantilever monoplane. Rectangular center section, incorporating the two engine nacelles, all engine instruments, throttles, switches, battery, flaps and flap-controls, were attached to a steel tube cabane in the hull and could be completely removed by the loosening of four fittings and the disconnection of aileron controls and fuel lines. Tapering outer wings had built-in leading edge slots and carried ailerons and wing-tip floats. Structure entirely of plastic bonded plywood.
Hull: Two-step structure of plastic bonded plywood.
Tail unit: Braced monoplane type. Fin built integrally with hull with tail plane mounted above hull and braced by single struts. Plastic bonded plywood construction.
Landing gear: Retractable type. Oleo-sprung wheels raised into faired recessed in sides of hull. Landing-gear detachable and when dismounted auxiliary drum-shaped tanks could be carried in wheel recesses to increase range. Leaf-spring tail-wheel on second step.
Power plant: Two 75 hp Continental C75 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engines in nacelles in the leading edge of the center section. Laminated wood propellers with pitch adjustable on the ground. Normal fuel capacity 40 gal (151 l). Two 10 gal (38 l) auxiliary drum tanks could be installed in wheel recesses when amphibian gear not fitted.
Accommodation: Enclosed cabin seating three, two seats side-by-side with dual controls in front of cabin and one aft. Entrance hatch aft of wing with second hatch in nose.

In 1945 the manufacturing rights were acquired by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (until January 1943 known as the Rearwin Aircraft and Engines Incorporation). The company had works in Valley Stream and in Port Washington, Long Island, New York, and Kansas City, Kansas.

Registered NC41999, a second aircraft appeared, this was powered by two 85 hp engines. Commonwealth marketed the type as the C-170 Trimmer and also offered a de Luxe version. The company planned series production of the Trimmer at Port Washington, and a program was started to gain a Type Certificate. However, in October and November 1946, halfway through the certification program, a labor strike hit the company and all work was halted. No further Trimmers were produced, and in 1947 the company failed.

Follwing is the description of the Commonwealth C-170 Trimmer:

Wings: Cantilever high-wing monoplane. Airfoil section (root) NACA 23015, (tip) NACA 23012. Two box-spar structure in three sections consisted of a constant-chord center section integral with hull and carrying engines and accessories, and two tapered outer sections with semi-circular tips. Center section had plywood covering, outer sections covered with plywood to rear spar and thereafter with fabric. Statically-balanced fabric-covered wooden ailerons on ball-bearing hinges. Aileron movements, up 30 degrees, down 25 degrees. Plain-hinge flaps in two pieces on center section, plywood structure and covering. Built-in leading edge slots on outer wings.
Hull: Two-step structure of molded plywood divided into three watertight compartments. Bonded phenolic paper finish. Wingtip floats of similar construction attached to outer wings by streamlined steel-tube struts and wire-braced.
Tail unit: Semi-cantilever monoplane type, with strut-braced tail plane. Fin and tail plane of wooden construction with plywood covering. Rudder of wooden construction with fabric covering. Controllable rudder trim-tab. Welded steel statically-balanced elevators with fabric covering. Controllable trim-tab in port elevator. Rudder movement 30 degrees each way; elevator movements up 25 degrees, down 25 degrees.
Landing gear: Retractable two-wheel type. Wheels carried on Electric Model 400-5 hydraulic shock-absorber struts and raised into recessed fairings on sides of hull. Electric or hydraulic operation, with emergency manual gear. Tail-wheel on leaf spring on rear step. Goodyear single-disc hydraulic brakes with Scott hydraulic actuators.
Power plant: Two 85 hp Continental C85-12 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engines in center section on welded steel tube rubber-mounted bearings and attached by four bolts. Cruising rpm 2,300; maximum rpm 2,575. Two-blade fixed pitch or constant-speed propellers. Maximum fuel capacity 40 gal (151 l). Oil capacity 1.25 gal (4.7 l) each engine. 10 gal (38 l) special long-range tanks fitting into wheel fairings could replace land undercarriage.
Accommodation: Enclosed and sound-proofed cabin seating three; two side-by-side with dual controls in front, and one behind. Adjustable seats. Windows in roof above rear seat. Three seats convertible to two bunks on de Luxe model. Entry hatch on port side of hull aft of wing, and mooring hatch in deck forward of windscreen.
Equipment: 12-volt electric system. Anchorage gear in forward watertight compartment. Two-way radio, landing lights and constant-speed propellers on de Luxe model.

Most likely much earlier, but certainly by January 1964, the surviving Commonwealth C-170 Trimmer was registered to Cornelius 'Cork' Biemond of Ord, Nebraska.

Biemond had served with the USAAF from 1943 to 1946 as a flying instructor on multi-engined bombers and fighters. He held a commercial pilot rating for 69 years accruing 11,474 flight hours. For fourteen years he flew agricultural sprayers and dusters during the spring and summer. With a master's degree in Education, he taught science and agriculture on both high school and college levels. Before retirement he worked for the FAA as an engineer and aircraft inspector.

Biemond had obtained the Trimmer, as well as the engineering drawings and other documents, with plans to put the aircraft into production. However, the Trimmer had not been flown for several years, and it took some time and about 25 major modifications to get the aircraft airworthy and up to current FAA specifications. Biemond also had obtained the documents of the halfway through Type Certificate program and restarted the certification process.

Biemond Teal CB-1 (N41999) (Walter van Tilborg Collection)

Due to FAA regulations the designation Commonwealth C-170 Trimmer was any longer allowed, so the aircraft was redesignated Biemond Teal CB-1. On November 14, 1967, the FAA approved the aircraft and issued the Type Certificate (Restricted Category) A15WE to Cornelius Biemond, by this time residing at Green Valley, Arizona. On December 19, 1967, the aircraft received a Certificate of Airworthiness.

The Type Certificate Data Sheet says that no other aircraft may be produced under the type certificate. Hence Biemond planned production of a much reworked version with more powerful 150 hp engines and a partly composite material construction, including the use of carbon fiber and Kevlar. This was marketed by the company Aero Industrial Agricultural Development Corporation of Nebraska, residing in Sunnyvale, California, as the Biemond Skimmer CB-1. However, no new or modified aircraft was built. (The image in the brochure shows most likely the Commonwealth C-170 Trimmer).

By July 1970, the Biemond Teal CB-1 had been deregistered, on May 16, 1972, it was registered to John Kolbasa of Vassar, Michigan. Shortly thereafter it was damage and reportedly not flown for many years. The aircraft was sold to Eric Engler of Cass City, Michigan, on June 11, 2014.

Aged 99, Cornelius 'Cork' Biemond recently passed away, September 26, 2022.