old bellancas

Dan Cullman

Dan Cullman

New member
Ok..I've Had it...............It's been months since a post here. If There's no interest, I'm going elsewhere.......... D
 
Where will you go. You are the only one old enough on this site to remember Bellanca history (except maybe Cy). Don't go anywhere, If you post we will read. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Dan,
I hope you'll stick around. You have the ability to make Bellanca history come alive. I would hate to see you go away.
Gary
 
Dan, I try to look at this section every few weeks. I know there is not much activity, but as has been stated, You are the most knowlegable Bellanca person that we have. Most of us on the forum, only know about our own model of Bellanca, and limited knowledge at best. I have learned a lot about Cruisairs over the years from reading your posts. The prewar Bellancas are very interesting, but most of us have so little knowledge of them, that we depend on you to enlighten us. Dont give up______Grant.
 
Dan, I agree with Grant. Most of us get our knowledge of Bellanca history through you on this forum and your articles in the "rag". I still don't understand why we hear so little about G.M. in most aviation history books or blogs or... Please don't despair. Anytime something moves you to post, or you come across some historical nugget please post it here.
When I posted that article about G.M. in the 1927 Time mag article, I put it in the wrong forum. Should have put it here vs. triple tail.
Larry
 
And every 6 to 9 months I have to say STAY WITH IT. The history of our planes is part of the joy of owning/flying them! This is what our planes are all about!
LL
 
It has now been almost 60 days since Dan threatened to quite the Old Bellanca Forum.

Here is a question for you Dan.

Where can I see one of the Big Assed old Bellanca load haulers in the flesh on the West Coast?
Better yet, where can I see and hear one fly !!


BTW:

I think a high profile Dealer in rare aircraft might have a big Bellanca apart in a hanger at Gnoss Field
Novato, Cal. I saw the Big wings leaning against the side of his hanger when I went to see
a POS citabria there 2 years ago. Pretty sure he told me it was a Big Bellanca. Can't remember which model.

What the heck else has fabric covered wings that big ? !!

I couldn't buy a dead rat from this guy at a fair price.
But for rare stuff.. what's fair when you're poor ?

It's a lead.

Last I knew he was hawking Lockheeds on Barnstormers.
Often from random locations. But he is based at Gnoss. :twisted:
 
We just unloaded those wings in Cashmere, WA., where the rest of the airplane is being restored. This shop, at one time, had three of these bigger Bellanca CH series in restoration. The shop also finished the Miss Veedol and Hawaiian Bellancas.
A bigger Bellanca, yet, can be found at the museum in Tillamook, Or. The Aircruiser, model 66.
 
Well we are at the 10 month mark!
This part of the index deals with "Bellancas Prior to the Cruisair."
When we think of "the Cruisair," I'll bet 98% of the membership thinks of the 14-13 series. The 14-13,
14-13-2 and the 14-13-3. These were all post WW2 airplanes.
Different Cruisairs were made several years before the USA entered the war. Who can name the different airplanes and what made them different from the post-war airplanes?
Dan
 
er...uh..duh...I'd have to look up the models and exact engines..but the pre-war
predecessors in the low wing series, was a failed attempt to build a military two seater..then a 2 then 3 seat round engine versions that layed down the basic architecture and construction of the 14 series post war cruisair.. using approx. 90 hp, fixed pitch prop, and stick controls..production version of which was apparently a successful airplane..since you own one..why not illuminate us on the differences from our "familiar" cruisair.cruismasters ?
:)
 
Larry,
Let's wait for a week or so that others can input. I hope more folks will participate in this underused forum.
Dan
 
Bellanca (Cruisair) Junior models 14-9 (3-seat), 14-12 (4-seat?)
- Ken Royce 90 (70 hp was never built)
- Lycoming O-235 (not produced? Called 14-10?)
- Lenape (see Dan's article in upcoming October issue)
- Franklin

I am sure Dan will provide details...
 
So I did look up the Aircraft Spec and found the following:

14-9 3 place Low Wing Monoplane approved for either the Rearwin LeBlond 90 or the Ken Royce 90.

14-9L Same as above but approved for the Lenape Brave LM-5

14-12-F3 3 Place LWM approved with the Franklin 6AC-264F3

A difference between these and the postwar planes is that besides being 3 vs 4 place, the prewar had a stick instead of a yoke.

One interesting (to me) commonality between prewar and post war was that the flap speed is 86 MPH on all of them!
 
Bellanca airplanes, for the most part were among the most expensive "general aviation" aircraft produced in the late '20s to the outbreak of WW2. The very limited production of each model was purchased by only the most wealthy, commercial operators and the military.
In the height of the "Great Depression," Bellanca, as well as other manufacturers sought to produce light aircraft more in line with the pocketbook of average pilot/owners. Bellanca's contribution to this effort was the model 14-9. The model designation followed the company practice noting "wing area-horsepower."
There has been some mention in various publications of a fixed gear model 14-7. I have never seen any proof that this model ever existed or was seriously considered. The old heavy iron head Le Blond 70hp. engine that would have powered this 14-7 was obsolete by the time the first model 14 Bellanca was on the drawing board, being replaced with the much more able and lighter aluminum head 85 and 90 hp. engines.
The first 14-9 was completed in late 1937.

More on the 14-9 "Junior" in a week or so. I'd like to see more input and perhaps some photos of these aircraft from other members. Thanks to the two Larrys for their comments, so far.
 
There were approximately 46 14-9 Cruisair Juniors manufactured in the years 1939, '40 and '41.
The TC was issued in August 1939 after two prototypes were extensively tested. The first airplane had successfully completed most of the required certification program when it was involved in a fatal accident during spin testing.
"GM" made a few changes in the airplane including the addition of the iconic triple tail. The later S/N of the 14-9 are intermixed with those of the 14-12F3. For some time, I didn't think any -9s were made after the introduction of the -12 as a '41 model. Not so. Apparently both were made concurrently. I have one project -9, the third from the last built that has a manufacturing date of March 1941.
Dan
 
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