The Bellanca CF was an aircraft development of Italian-American aviation pioneer Giuseppe Mario Bellanca (1886-1960). The design was destined for the commercial market with the then-novel feature of an all-enclosed passenger cabin seating four in relative comfort. A high-winged monoplane planform was used complete with high-lift struts and the fuselage was covered over in impressive mahogany plywood. Beyond this, the monoplane held exceptional performance for an aircraft of this type during its particular period of aviation history.
Structurally, the CF was given a wingspan of 40 feet with an overall length of 23.9 feet and a height of 2.2 feet. Empty weight was 950lb against a gross weight of 1,990lb.
Power to the aircraft came from a single Anzani engine of 110 horsepower used to drive a two-bladed propeller at the nose in "puller" arrangement, the propeller streamlined by way of spinner assembly at its center. The cockpit was located directly aft of the engine installation with the passenger cabin making up most of the rest of the internal volume. The cabin also had viewing panels embedded into its side walls to complete its passenger-centric appearance. The undercarriage was of typical "tail dragger" arrangement and function with main legs seated under the frontal mass of the airframe and a simple skid positioned under the tail unit.
With design work undertaken in 1921, the CF was built under the Roos-Bellanca Aircraft Company brand label and had its first-flight on June 8th, 1922.
On the whole, the CF was a conventional aircraft through-and-through save for the vision Bellanca had of a commercial market employing aircraft to ferry people to and fro. In this way, the design succeeded though, in reality, the market had yet to exist - certainly making Bellanca a pioneer of aviation in this regard. This did, however, lead to only one specimen being completed. Nevertheless, the monoplane was a winner in that it claimed air races in 1922 and 1923 and, adding to its fame, no fewer than four performance awards were netted at the Midwestern Flying Meet in Monmouth, Illinois. It was also host to a pair of marriage ceremonies that were held in the aircraft while in flight.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
Length
24.0 ft (7.30 m)
Width/Span
40.0 ft (12.20 m)
Height
7.2 ft (2.20 m)
Empty Wgt
952 lb (432 kg)
MTOW
2,002 lb (908 kg)
Wgt Diff
+1,049 lb (+476 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Bellanca C.F. production variant)
monoplane / high-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
High-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper-most position allowable along the dorsal line of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the base Bellanca C.F. production variant)
Installed:
1 x Anzani engine of 110 horsepower driving two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Bellanca C.F. production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
None.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings:
CF - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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