Talk:Bellanca 14-13

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I am an owner/pilot of a 1947 Bellanca 14-13-2. I have flown many single engine airplanes and outside of aerobatic airplanes, nothing compares to the razor-sharp handling and overall fine flight characteristics of this Bellanca. This was the last design penned by Giuseppe Bellanca and he claimed it was his best. There is some special genious in its combination of airfoil and flight controls. It outperforms anything from Cessna, Piper or Beech on similar horsepower. Mine has the optional 165hp Franklin and an Aeromatic propeller. It will climb at 1000fpm and cruise at about 140 MPH at a high cruise power setting buring about 9 GPH. The later models of Cruisemaster and Viking are much faster but as they got heavier and heavier, the flight characteristics became less balanced - mostly in pitch. All Bellancas have wonderful roll response but the Cruisair's perfectly balanced controls translate to effortless handling and confidence inspiring slow flight characteristics. It also trims up nicely and is very stable in cruise mode. Turbulence doesn't send it yawing around like a V-tail Bonanza. In flight, the airplane has a very solid feel. You don't feel any twisting of the structure and the wings don't flex or twist in turbulence. In many Cessnas and Pipers, you see the skin twisting and distorting as you fly.

I've visited the factory in Alexandria, Minnesota and seen the wooden wings under construction. They are a complex design that demands a high level of craftsmanship. They are extremely strong. Each wing panel uses dual laminated spruce spars that are doubled up near the roots and taper down to the tips. Ribs are placed at very tight intervals of about 12 inches and then the whole wing is sheeted in a very high grade of aircraft plywood. The "Bellanca B" airfoil has a small amount of under-camber and they taper on both the leading and trailing edges. The result is fairly high-aspect wing that provides plenty of lift and great flight characterisitics. Ailerons span more than half the wing and flaps deploy to 46 degrees for landing. If you keep your speed correct, those flaps translate to a very short landing roll-out.

As taildraggers go, this one is very tame. The wheels are spaced nearly 9 feet apart making it very stable in landing. It wheel lands just beautifully and the landing gear and tailwheel have long-throw oleo struts that really cushion your landing. If you set it up correctly it just sort of melts onto the runway.

Giuseppe Bellanca made a real gem with this airplane. Its looks, handling and performance all translate to a great flying experience.

[edit] Article inaccuracy

Bellanca didn't stop making the 14-19 in '51, my father owns a 1957 14-19-2 and has documents to prove the date of manufacture.

It should also be noted that the Cruisemaster, while similar to the CruiseAir, is a different airframe entirely. As far as I know, the only parts interchangable between the two are a few nuts and bolts, panel instruments, and the pilot.

KimJongSick 11:49, 28 October 2007 (UTC)