Famous Bellanca Airplanes

The Wright-Bellanca WB-2 was introduced in 1926. It was powered with the newest "Whirlwind" engine and was rated at 220hp. Charles Lindbergh tried to purchase this plane but both Wright and Bellanca were reluctant to sell. Ironically, this as the airplane that Chamberlin and Levine flew to Germany about a month after Lindbergh’s successful flight to Paris.

Early in 1927, Bellanca and the Wright Company parted. The WB-2 now known as "Columbia" was flown by Chamberlin and Bert Acosta to a new endurance record of over 51 hours at Roosevelt Field. This was a test for the planned flight to Paris. After Lindbergh flew to Paris the Orteig prize was won. Chamberlin and Levine then flew from New York to Eislenban Germany a flight of some 3,900 miles. The photo below was taken May 20, 1927 the day of Lindbergh’s flight. New York – Paris was on the side of the plane to show their original intended flight. Reg. NX237.

On June 24-25, 1931 another Trans-Atlantic flight was made in the Bellanca named "Liberty". It was flown from Harbour Grace, piloted by Holger Hoiriis and Otto Hillig as passenger. After 32 hours, they landed at Krefeld Germany and then continued on to Copenhagen.

June 29-30, 1934 the former "Liberty" made its second crossing of the Atlantic, now named "City of Warsaw". The two brothers, Joseph and Benjamin Adomowitz just escaped a crash on takeoff. After leaving New York, they flew for 23 1/2 hours and landed in St. Andre de Mossel, France and then on to Germany and Warsaw. Reg. NR 797W


Bellanca Monoplane "Liberty" – Newfoundland to Germany June 24-25, 1931
Holger Hoiriis, Pilot – Otto Hillig, Passenger
Otto Hillig and Holger Hoiriis left Harbor Grace in a Bellanca monoplane which sped out across the Atlantic Ocean with no more serious purpose than to fulfill the desire of a 55 year-old German-born photographer and a youthful Danish-born pilot to visit their homelands and indulge in "some pigs knuckles, sauerkraut and beer." Forced to fly high over continuous cloud banks, Hiliig persuaded his pilot (who after 32 hours was fighting off sleep) to land. They came down at Krefeld, Germany and continued on to Bremen then Copenhagen.


Bellanca Monoplane "City of Warsaw" – Newfoundland to France June 29-30, 1934
Joseph Adamowicz – Benjamin Adamowicz
Escaping a crash at the takeoff by the narrowest of margins the "flying brother act" took their plane, the former "Liberty", for its second crossing of the Atlantic. Halfway down the runway the plane lifted slightly, then settled back and plunged forward again. Then at the very end of the runway with rough ground, boulders and trees directly ahead, the plane took to the air, gradually glided upward and cleared the treetops. With a helping wind from the west on their tail, but clouds and rain squalls about them to test their new-learned skill at blind navigation they soared over the Atlantic. After flying 23, hours 32 minutes they landed at St. Andre de Mossoi.

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