Bellanca Airbus & Aircruiser

Les Bellanca Airbus et Aircruiser vu sur Wikipedia.en

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The Bellanca Aircruiser and Airbus were high-wing, single engine aircraft built by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

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 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] Cyclone or [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 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 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 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.

Variants


Airbus


P-100 Airbus

14-passenger monoplane powered by a 600 hp (447 kW) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 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 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] engine.

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Bellanca P-200 Airbus

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Y1C-27

United States Army Air Corps designation for four P-200 Airbuses powered by 550 hp (410 kW) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] engine. All later converted to C-27C.

C-27A Airbus

Production version of the Y1C-27 powered by a 650 hp (485 kW) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 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.

C-27A

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Aircruiser


Aircruiser 66-67

Improved structure modified from a P-200 with a 675 hp [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] engine

Aircruiser 66-70

An Aircruiser with a 710 hp [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 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.