Budd BB1 Pioneer Aircraft Budd Company,
1931 (installed 1935)
* actual airplane
* Originally labeled as "The Pioneer". The sign was changed to the current title some time between 2017 and 2021. Changed here 7/4/2022.
* inscription:
(from the old sign)
First stainless steel airplane built in 1931
by the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company of Phila.
to demonstrate the practicality of its "shotweld" process
of fabricating stainless steel subsequently employed by
the Budd Co. in building heavyweight railroad trains.
The Pioneer was flown approximately 1,000 hours
in the United Staes and Europe.
* In front of the Franklin Institute.
Southwest corner, 20th and Winter and the Parkway.
* 39.958490,-75.172440 [map][nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+fi.edu article about this piece
+wikipedia.org's Budd Company page
+The Franklin Institute Science Museum
