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Bellanca Aircruiser / Airbus

The Bellanca Aircruiser and Airbus were high wing, single engined 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 with wheels, floats or skis.

The aircraft was powered by either a Wright Cyclone or Pratt and Whitney Hornet engine.

The Airbus and Aircruiser served as both commercial and military transports.

Variants

Airbus

Bellanca P 

Commercial version of Bellanca K, powered by a 500 hp (370 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1860 Hornet.

P-100 Airbus 

14 passenger monoplane powered by a 600 hp (450 kW) Curtiss Conqueror 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 R-1820 Cyclone engine.

Y1C-27 

United States Army Air Corps designation for four P-200 Airbuses powered by 550 hp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1860 Hornet B engine.

All later converted to C-27C.

C-27A Airbus 

Production version of the Y1C-27 powered by a 650 hp (480 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1860 Hornet B 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 (503 kW) Wright R-1820-17 Cyclone engine.

C-27C Airbus 

Four Y1C-27s and nine of the C-27A re-engined with a 750 hp (560 kW) Wright R-1820-25 Cyclone engine.

Aircruiser

Aircruiser 66-67 

Improved structure modified from a P-200 with a 675 hp (503 kW) Wright SR-1820 Cyclone engine

Aircruiser 66-70 

Aircruiser with a 710 hp (530 kW) Wright SGR-1820 Cyclone engine, five built & exported to Canada.

Aircruiser 66-75 

Aircruiser with a 730 hp (540 kW) Wright Cyclone engine, three built.

Aircruiser 66-76 

A cargo version of the Aircruiser with a 760 hp (570 kW) Wright Cyclone.

Aircruiser 66-80 

An Aircruiser with an 850 hp (630 kW) Wright Cyclone engine.

Specifications

66-70 Aircruiser

Crew

One

Capacity

16 passengers

Length

43 ft 4 in (13.21 m)

Wingspan

65 ft 0 in (19.82 m)

Height

11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)

Wing area

520 sq ft (48.3 m2)

Empty weight

6,072 lb (2,754 kg)

Gross weight

10,000 lb (4,536 kg)

Powerplant

1 × Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9, 9 cylinder supercharged air cooled radial engine,

710 hp (530 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed

144 kn (165 mph, 266 km/h)

Range

608 nmi (700 mi, 1,130 km)

Service ceiling

22,000 ft (6,700 m).

 

 

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