Flight, February 1935

AMERICAN ADAPTABILITY
A 190 m.p. h. Bellanca Bomber Adaptable for Several Purposes: Landplane or Seaplane

   LARGER than any previous model produced by this well-known American firm, the new Bellanca bomber retains numerous distinctive "family" features. It is apparent that the experience gained with the "Airbus" and "Aircruiser" types has been applied to the design, which embodies a high wing with bracing struts forming auxiliary aerofoils, their inner portions, from the undercarriage attachment to the fuselage, being placed at a pronounced anhedral angle. Four of the new machines, which may be operated as landplanes or on floats, have been built for the Colombian Government and on their delivery flight may attempt to break distance records for seaplanes. An eighteen-passenger civil version, the most attractive feature of which is its 6,210 lb. Disposable load, will soon be put on the market.
   The folding fabric-covered wings are of wooden two-spar construction, with closely spaced plywood ribs. Both the "auxiliary" wings and the lower stub wings are of welded steel tubes with fabric covering, and the inner portions of the main planes are covered with aluminium alloy. Chrome molybdenum steel tubing is employed for the fabric-covered fuselage. In the nose there is a gunner's position, and aft of this is the pilot's cockpit with dual controls. An anchor winch is one of the numerous items provided. A position for the bomb aimer is incorporated to the side of, and just below, the pilot's compartment and is well provided with Pyralin windows. There are two gunner's positions behind the wings.
   The cabin is 13ft. long and 6ft. high, and is adaptable to several purposes. Six stretchers may be installed or provision may be made for carrying eighteen soldiers, cargo, spare engines, or bombs. Behind the cabin is a 180-gallon abdominal tank, which, in combination with a removable 200-gallon tank strapped to the cabin floor, and the 300 gallons normally carried in tanks in the upper stub wings and engine nacelles, gives a 1,500-mile range in "maximum overload" condition.
   The design and arrangement of the tail surfaces, which are of wood or welded steel tubular construction, is such as to provide easy operation on a single engine without manoeuvring the machine into awkward positions to maintain flight.
   Two direct-drive supercharged Wright "Cyclone F-3" nine-cylinder radials giving 710 h.p. at 7,000 feet are installed in N.A.C.A. cowlings and are attached to rubber-bushed chrome molybdenum mountings on the top wings.
   Exceptional aerodynamic efficiency is a feature of the seaplane version, for the floats, which are of all-metal riveted aluminium alloy construction with retractile water rudders and beaching gear attachments, are simply and neatly attached to the same points as are the wheels of the landplane. Even as a seaplane the machine will fly on one engine with full load, maintaining a height of 8,000 feet.

BELLANCA BOMBER LANDPLANE
Two WRIGHT "CYCLONE F-3" (710 H.P. AT 7.000 FT.)

DIMENSIONS.
   Span 70ft. (23,16 m)
   Length 40ft. (12,79 m)
   Height 14ft. (4,26 m)

WEIGHTS.
Weight empty 8,216 lb. (3 726 kg)
Normal weight loaded 14,186 lb. (6 411 kg)
Maximum weight loaded 16,333 lb. (7 407 kg)

PERFORMANCE.
   Maximum speed a t 7,000ft. 100 m.p.h.
   Cruising speed (75 per cent, full power) 172 m.p.h.
   Stalling speed (with flaps) 58 m.p.h. (93,3 km/h)
   Climb to 6,560 ft. (2,000 m) 5.5 min.
   Climb to 16,400ft. (6.000 m) 17.7 min.
   Absolute ceiling 25,000ft. (7 620 m)
   Normal range 710 miles (1143 km)
   Maximum range 1 500 miles (2 414 km)