Bellanca Aircruiser
Encyclopedia
The Bellanca Aircruiser and Airbus were high-wing, single engine aircraft built by Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of New Castle, Delaware
. The aircraft was built as a "workhorse" intended for use as a passenger or cargo aircraft. It was available as land, sea or ski plane. The aircraft was powered by either a Wright
Cyclone or Pratt and Whitney Hornet engine. The Airbus and Aircruiser served as both a commercial and military transport.
s could not come close to matching.
In 1934, US federal regulations outlawed single engine transports on US airlines, virtually eliminating future markets for the Aircruiser. Where the workhorse capabilities of the Aircruiser stood out was in Canada. Several of "The Flying W", as it was commonly dubbed in Canada, were used in northern mining operations, ferrying ore, supplies and the occasional passenger into the 1970s.
P-200 Airbus
P-300 Airbus
Y1C-27
C-27A Airbus
C-27B Airbus
C-27C Airbus
Aircruiser 66-70
Aircruiser 66-75
Aircruiser 66-76
Aircruiser 66-80
, in Tillamook
, Oregon
.
Another Bellanca Aircruiser, "CF-AWR" named the "Eldorado Radium Silver Express", built in 1935, is presently under restoration at the Western Canada Aviation Museum
, Winnipeg
.
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
. The aircraft was built as a "workhorse" intended for use as a passenger or cargo aircraft. It was available as land, sea or ski plane. The aircraft was powered by either a Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
Cyclone or Pratt and Whitney Hornet engine. The Airbus and Aircruiser served as both a commercial and military transport.
Design and development
The first Bellanca Airbus was built in 1930 as the P-100. An efficient design, it was capable of carrying 12 to 14 passengers depending on the cabin interior configuration, with later versions carrying up to 15. In 1931, test pilot George Haldeman flew the P-100 a distance of 4,400 miles in a time aloft of 35 hours. Although efficient, with a cost per mile figure of 0.08 cent per mile calculated for that flight, the first Airbus didn't sell due to its water-cooled engine.In service
The next model, the P-200 Airbus, was powered by a larger, more reliable air-cooled engine. One version (P-200-A) came with floats and operated as a ferry service in New York City, flying between Wall Street and the East River. Other versions included a P-200 Deluxe model, with custom interiors and seating for nine. The P-300 was designed to carry 15 passengers. The final model, the "Aircruiser," was the most efficient aircraft of its day, and would rank high amongst all aircraft designs. With a Wright Cyclone air-cooled supercharged radial engine rated at 715 hp, the Aircruiser could carry a useful load greater than its empty weight. In the mid-1930s, the Aircruiser could carry 4,000 lb payloads at a speed of between 145-155 mph, a performance that multi-engine Fokkers and Ford TrimotorFord Trimotor
The Ford Trimotor was an American three-engined transport plane that was first produced in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and that continued to be produced until June 7, 1933. Throughout its time in production, a total of 199 Ford Trimotors were produced...
s could not come close to matching.
In 1934, US federal regulations outlawed single engine transports on US airlines, virtually eliminating future markets for the Aircruiser. Where the workhorse capabilities of the Aircruiser stood out was in Canada. Several of "The Flying W", as it was commonly dubbed in Canada, were used in northern mining operations, ferrying ore, supplies and the occasional passenger into the 1970s.
Airbus
P-100 Airbus- 14-passenger monoplane powered by a 600 hp (447 kW) Curtiss ConquerorCurtiss V-1570|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9-External links:...
engine, one built later converted into a P-200.
P-200 Airbus
- 12-passenger monoplane, nine built and one converted from P-100.
P-300 Airbus
- 15-seater monoplane powered by a Wright CycloneWright R-1820|-See also:-References:* Bridgman, L, Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7* Eden, Paul & Soph Moeng, The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152...
engine.
Y1C-27
- United States Army Air Corps designation for four P-200 Airbuses powered by 550 hp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine. All later converted to C-27C.
C-27A Airbus
- Production version of the Y1C-27 powered by a 650 hp (485 kW) Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine, ten built. One converted to a C-27B the rest converted to C-27Cs.
C-27B Airbus
- One C-27A re-engined with a 675 hp R-1820-17 engine.
C-27C Airbus
- Four Y1C-27s and nine of the C-27A re-engined with a 750 hp R-1820-25 engine.
Aircruiser
Aircruiser 66-67- Improved structure modified from a P-200 with a 675 hp SR-1820 CycloneWright R-1820|-See also:-References:* Bridgman, L, Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7* Eden, Paul & Soph Moeng, The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152...
engine
Aircruiser 66-70
- An Aircruiser with a 710 hp SGR-1820 CycloneWright R-1820|-See also:-References:* Bridgman, L, Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7* Eden, Paul & Soph Moeng, The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152...
engine, five built - exported to Canada.
Aircruiser 66-75
- An Aircruiser with a 730 hp Wright Cyclone engine, three built.
Aircruiser 66-76
- A cargo-version of the Aircruiser with a 760 hp Wright Cyclone.
Aircruiser 66-80
- An Aircruiser with a 850 hp Wright Cyclone engine.
Operators
- Canadian Pacific AirlinesCanadian Pacific AirlinesCanadian Pacific Air Lines was a Canadian airline that operated from 1942 to 1987. It operated under the name CP Air from 1968 to 1986...
(Aircruiser) - Central Northern Airways (Aircruiser)
- Mackenzie Air Service (Aircruiser)
- New York and Suburban Airlines (Airbus)
- United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air CorpsThe United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
(Airbus)
Survivors
The last flying Aircruiser, "CF-BTW," a 1938 model, after serving in Manitoba, is now on display at the Tillamook Air MuseumTillamook Air Museum
Tillamook Air Museum is an aviation museum located south of Tillamook, Oregon at Tillamook Airport . The museum is housed in a former military blimp hangar, called "Hangar B", which is the largest clear-span wooden structure in the world...
, in Tillamook
Tillamook
Tillamook may refer to:Places:* Tillamook County, Oregon, United States* Tillamook, Oregon, a city in the United States* Tillamook River, United States* Tillamook Bay, a bay in the northwestern part of Oregon...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Another Bellanca Aircruiser, "CF-AWR" named the "Eldorado Radium Silver Express", built in 1935, is presently under restoration at the Western Canada Aviation Museum
Western Canada Aviation Museum
The Western Canada Aviation Museum is a museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the second largest aviation museum in Canada. The collection is housed in an original Trans-Canada Air Lines hangar dating from the 1930s....
, Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
.
Specifications (66-70 Aircruiser)
See also
- Giuseppe Mario BellancaGiuseppe Mario BellancaGiuseppe Mario Bellanca was an Italian-American airplane designer and builder who created the first enclosed cabin monoplane in the United States in 1922. This aircraft is now on display at the National Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.-Biography:He was born on March 19, 1886 in...