bthomasKILG
New member
I am in the midst of deciding weather to purchase a 1948 Bellanca Cruisair. I have always been a fan of classic taildraggers, and enjoying working on aircraft. I feel this would be an exciting project, and the price is right. I however do not know much about fabric, and wood airplanes. I am looking for feedback from people who have tackled a restoration project and / or have Bellanca experience.
Basics of the airplanes are as follows:
model 14-13-3
4 place taildragger with a 180hp franklin motor, constant speed prop, and electric retracts.
The airplane suffered a gear collapse 2 years ago, and has been disassembled and placed into storage since then. I am told by the A&P that owns the plane the wings, and spars are solid. I am concerned about the wing spar butt cracks that are present, and the other damage to the wing. It will require a rebuild of the motor, a new prop and wing repair, and recover. No work is needed on the fuselage. I am attaching pictures and welcome any feedback or thoughts from fellow AOPA members before I shell out the cash to purchase this airplane.
What gets me excited about this plane is I live less than 2 miles from the historic Bellance hangar in New Castle Delaware where the airplane was built in 1948, and the airplane would be base at ILG also less than 2 miles from the hangar. It would be amazing for the airplane to finally come home, be restored, and be shared with the eventual museum. I realize it needs alot of work, and in reality it is a 5 to 10 year project for me plus a considerable amount of money. I honestly thinks folks around here would be excited to see it return to the air, and I was loving the fact that I would be a steward of not only aviation history, but Delaware aviation history as well.
I welcome all thoughts and any feedback fellow club members could give postive or negative. Thank you.
Sibce the forum will only let me post 3 files at a time the pictures will be on two seperate posts.
Basics of the airplanes are as follows:
model 14-13-3
4 place taildragger with a 180hp franklin motor, constant speed prop, and electric retracts.
The airplane suffered a gear collapse 2 years ago, and has been disassembled and placed into storage since then. I am told by the A&P that owns the plane the wings, and spars are solid. I am concerned about the wing spar butt cracks that are present, and the other damage to the wing. It will require a rebuild of the motor, a new prop and wing repair, and recover. No work is needed on the fuselage. I am attaching pictures and welcome any feedback or thoughts from fellow AOPA members before I shell out the cash to purchase this airplane.
What gets me excited about this plane is I live less than 2 miles from the historic Bellance hangar in New Castle Delaware where the airplane was built in 1948, and the airplane would be base at ILG also less than 2 miles from the hangar. It would be amazing for the airplane to finally come home, be restored, and be shared with the eventual museum. I realize it needs alot of work, and in reality it is a 5 to 10 year project for me plus a considerable amount of money. I honestly thinks folks around here would be excited to see it return to the air, and I was loving the fact that I would be a steward of not only aviation history, but Delaware aviation history as well.
I welcome all thoughts and any feedback fellow club members could give postive or negative. Thank you.
Sibce the forum will only let me post 3 files at a time the pictures will be on two seperate posts.
All Cruisairs were built in Newcastle and they are wonderful planes. I wasn't very encouraging in my answer to you and I still believe that you would be better served to find a different Cruisair. Even if you get the one in the pictures free, it will cost you more to restore it than to purchase another one. I hope some of the other members will jump in and give their opinions because I may be way off base on this.