|
m removed Category:Single-engine aircraft using HotCat
|
|
||
| (11 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> |
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> |
||
{|{{Infobox |
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin |
||
|name=28-70 ''Irish Swoop'' |
|name=28-70 ''Irish Swoop'' |
||
|image=Irish Swoop.jpg |
|image=Irish Swoop.jpg |
||
|caption=Bellanca 28-70 as "Irish Swoop" |
|caption=Bellanca 28-70 as "Irish Swoop" |
||
}}{{Infobox |
}}{{Infobox aircraft type |
||
|type=Air racing aircraft |
|type=Air racing aircraft |
||
|manufacturer=[[Bellanca]] |
|manufacturer=[[Bellanca]] |
||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
|} |
|} |
||
The '''Bellanca 28-70''' was a long-range air racer designed for [[James Fitzmaurice (pilot)|James Fitzmaurice]] [[Irish people|Irish]] |
The '''Bellanca 28-70''' was a long-range air racer designed for [[James Fitzmaurice (pilot)|James Fitzmaurice]], [[Irish people|Irish]] pioneer aviator, who christened it ''Irish Swoop''. Although it was built in time for the 1934 [[MacRobertson Race]] from England to Australia, it was never destined to be a competitive long-distance racer but it was ultimately reborn as a high-speed bomber. |
||
==Design and development== |
==Design and development== |
||
[[File:Bellanca_28-70_photo_L'Aerophile_November_1934.jpg|thumb|Bellanca 28-70 photo from L'Aerophile November 1934]] |
|||
In preparation for the upcoming 1934 [[MacRobertson Race]] from England to Australia, Col. James "Fitz" Fitzmaurice, former commanding officer of the Irish Free State Air Force travelled to the [[United States]] in spring 1934 to commission a long-distance air racing aircraft.<ref name= "Underwood p. 16.">Underwood 1975, p. 16.</ref> After approaching the [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed Aircraft]] and [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop Aircraft]] companies, he sought out [[Giuseppe Mario Bellanca]].<ref name= "Underwood p. 17.">Underwood 1975, p. 17.</ref> Although he did not have a product to sell, Bellanca made a proposal to Fitzmaurice to build a "one-off" specialty aircraft for $30,000.00.<ref name= "Underwood p. 17."/> |
In preparation for the upcoming 1934 [[MacRobertson Race]] from England to Australia, Col. James "Fitz" Fitzmaurice, former commanding officer of the Irish Free State Air Force travelled to the [[United States]] in spring 1934 to commission a long-distance air racing aircraft.<ref name= "Underwood p. 16.">Underwood 1975, p. 16.</ref> After approaching the [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed Aircraft]] and [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop Aircraft]] companies, he sought out [[Giuseppe Mario Bellanca]].<ref name= "Underwood p. 17.">Underwood 1975, p. 17.</ref> Although he did not have a product to sell, Bellanca made a proposal to Fitzmaurice to build a "one-off" specialty aircraft for $30,000.00.<ref name= "Underwood p. 17."/> |
||
| Line 28: | Line 29: | ||
==Operational history== |
==Operational history== |
||
After receiving the aircraft, Fitzmaurice and his co-pilot, Eric "Jock" Bonar conducted a rapid series of preflight tests in New York before carrying out the first flight on 1 September 1934.<ref name= "Underwood p. 19.">Underwood 1975, p. 19.</ref> The initial flight showed problems in aileron controls that necessitated a modification. Following a successful second test flight, the aircraft painted as "race 29" was crated and shipped by sea on the liner ''[[SS Bremen ( |
After receiving the aircraft, Fitzmaurice and his co-pilot, Eric "Jock" Bonar conducted a rapid series of preflight tests in New York before carrying out the first flight on 1 September 1934.<ref name= "Underwood p. 19.">Underwood 1975, p. 19.</ref> The initial flight showed problems in aileron controls that necessitated a modification. Following a successful second test flight, the aircraft painted as "race 29" was crated and shipped by sea on the liner ''[[SS Bremen (1928)|SS Bremen]]'' with a final destination at Bremerhaven, after the aircraft was unable to be offloaded at its first stop in Southampton, when the small ship that was to transport the Bellanca broke its towline. |
||
Christened the ''Irish Swoop'', Fitzmaurice and Bonar took off in the racer on 9 October, arriving in [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]] barely in time for the start of the [[MacRobertson Race]].<ref name= "Underwood p. 19."/> The ferry flight was problematic with a cracked cowling forcing a landing at Amsterdam.<ref name= "Underwood p. 21.">Underwood 1975, p. 21.</ref> |
Christened the ''Irish Swoop'', Fitzmaurice and Bonar took off in the racer on 9 October, arriving in [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]] barely in time for the start of the [[MacRobertson Race]].<ref name= "Underwood p. 19."/> The ferry flight was problematic with a cracked cowling forcing a landing at Amsterdam.<ref name= "Underwood p. 21.">Underwood 1975, p. 21.</ref> |
||
| Line 34: | Line 35: | ||
The MacRobertson race rules committee considered the Fitzmaurice and Bonar entry not "race-ready".<ref name= "Underwood p. 21.">Underwood 1975, p. 21.</ref> A more serious problem involved the Bellanca exceeding its design specifications wherein it had been certified for a 400-gallon fuel capacity and now was carrying much more fuel and weight without being recertified. Assigned a penalty that limited its fuel to 120 gallons, Fitzmaurice withdrew the ''Irish Swoop'' hours before the race, unwilling to sacrifice his fuel load. |
The MacRobertson race rules committee considered the Fitzmaurice and Bonar entry not "race-ready".<ref name= "Underwood p. 21.">Underwood 1975, p. 21.</ref> A more serious problem involved the Bellanca exceeding its design specifications wherein it had been certified for a 400-gallon fuel capacity and now was carrying much more fuel and weight without being recertified. Assigned a penalty that limited its fuel to 120 gallons, Fitzmaurice withdrew the ''Irish Swoop'' hours before the race, unwilling to sacrifice his fuel load. |
||
After being recertified for its new configuration, Fitzmaurice and Bonar undertook a long-distance record flight on 29 October 1934 intending to set a new London-Baghdad mark (4,100 km / 2546 mi).<ref name= "Underwood p. 62.">Underwood 1975, p. 62.</ref> Over Belgium, however, problems with a fairing and the cowling caused an end to the attempt. The Bellanca was shipped back to the |
After being recertified for its new configuration, Fitzmaurice and Bonar undertook a long-distance record flight on 29 October 1934 intending to set a new London-Baghdad mark (4,100 km / 2546 mi).<ref name= "Underwood p. 62.">Underwood 1975, p. 62.</ref> Over Belgium, however, problems with a fairing and the cowling caused an end to the attempt. The Bellanca was shipped back to the US to finish its tests, but was badly damaged in a landing accident on 15 April 1935 when a gust of wind flipped the aircraft on its back during a proving flight undertaken by Bonar and Bellanca mechanic Eddie Griscome.<ref name= "Underwood p. 62.">Underwood 1975, p. 62.</ref> In 1936, the aircraft was rebuilt with a 900 hp P&W Twin Wasp and redesignated the 28-90. |
||
Purchased by [[United Kingdom|British]] long-distance air racer [[Jim Mollison]] for $28,000, he renamed the aircraft ''Dorothy'' and used the Bellanca for a new transatlantic speed record, but in 1937 sold the aircraft to the Republican government in Spain.<ref name= "Underwood p. 62."/> |
Purchased by [[United Kingdom|British]] long-distance air racer [[Jim Mollison]] for $28,000, he renamed the aircraft ''Dorothy'' and used the Bellanca for a new transatlantic speed record, but in 1937 sold the aircraft to the Republican government in Spain.<ref name= "Underwood p. 62."/> |
||
| Line 48: | Line 49: | ||
==Specifications== |
==Specifications== |
||
{{Aircraft specs |
|||
{{Aerospecs |
|||
|prime units? = imp |
|||
|met or eng?=<!-- eng for US/UK aircraft, met for all others -->eng |
|||
|crew=two, pilot and co-pilot |
|crew=two, pilot and co-pilot |
||
|capacity= |
|||
|length ft=26 |
|length ft=26 |
||
|length in=6 |
|length in=6 |
||
| Line 58: | Line 58: | ||
|span in=2 |
|span in=2 |
||
|span m=14.08 |
|span m=14.08 |
||
|dia m=<!-- helicopters --> |
|||
|dia ft=<!-- helicopters --> |
|||
|dia in=<!-- helicopters --> |
|||
|height m= |
|||
|height ft= |
|||
|height in= |
|||
|wing area sqft=279 |
|wing area sqft=279 |
||
|wing area sqm=25.9 |
|wing area sqm=25.9 |
||
|rot area sqm=<!-- helicopters --> |
|||
|rot area sqft=<!-- helicopters --> |
|||
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |
|||
|empty weight kg= |
|||
|empty weight lb= |
|||
|gross weight lb=8,350 |
|gross weight lb=8,350 |
||
|gross weight kg=3,787 |
|gross weight kg=3,787 |
||
|eng1 number=1 |
|eng1 number=1 |
||
|eng1 |
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1535]] |
||
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->521 |
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->521 |
||
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->700 |
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->700 |
||
|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines --> |
|||
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines --> |
|||
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners --> |
|||
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners --> |
|||
|eng2 number= |
|||
|eng2 type= |
|||
|eng2 kw=<!-- prop engines --> |
|||
|eng2 hp=<!-- prop engines --> |
|||
|eng2 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines --> |
|||
|eng2 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines --> |
|||
|eng2 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners --> |
|||
|eng2 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners --> |
|||
|max speed mph=275 |
|max speed mph=275 |
||
|max speed kmh=442 |
|max speed kmh=442 |
||
|max speed mach=<!-- for supersonic aircraft --> |
|||
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown --> |
|||
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown --> |
|||
|range miles=2,500 |
|range miles=2,500 |
||
|range km=4,023 |
|range km=4,023 |
||
|endurance h=<!-- if range unknown --> |
|||
|endurance min=<!-- if range unknown --> |
|||
|ceiling ft=30,500 |
|ceiling ft=30,500 |
||
|ceiling m=9,300 |
|ceiling m=9,300 |
||
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |
|||
|climb rate ftmin=2,800 |
|climb rate ftmin=2,800 |
||
|climb rate ms=14.2 |
|climb rate ms=14.2 |
||
|sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes --> |
|||
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes --> |
|||
|armament1= |
|||
|armament2= |
|||
|armament3= |
|||
|armament4= |
|||
|armament5= |
|||
|armament6= |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
{{Portal|Aviation|US}} |
|||
*[[Giuseppe Mario Bellanca]] |
*[[Giuseppe Mario Bellanca]] |
||
=== Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era === |
|||
*[[Granville Gee Bee R-6]] ''Q.E.D.'' |
|||
*[[Lockheed Model 8 Sirius]] |
|||
*[[Northrop Gamma]] |
|||
=== Related lists === |
|||
*[[List of racing aircraft]] |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
| Line 120: | Line 92: | ||
{{reflist|2}} |
{{reflist|2}} |
||
;Bibliography |
;Bibliography |
||
{{refbegin}} |
|||
* {{cite magazine |last=Laureau |first=Patrick |title=Bellanca 28-70 & 28-90 "Flash" |magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=February 1988 |issue=219 |pages=28–33 |ref={{harvid|Laureau February 1988}} |language=French}} |
|||
* {{cite magazine |last=Laureau |first=Patrick |title=Bellanca 28-70 & 28-90 "Flash" (2)|magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=March 1988 |issue=220 |pages=30–34 |ref={{harvid|Laureau March 1988}} |language=French}} |
|||
* Taylor, Michael J.H. ''Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation''. London: Studio Editions, 1989. |
* Taylor, Michael J.H. ''Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation''. London: Studio Editions, 1989. |
||
* Underwood, John. "A Racer for Ireland, Bombers for Spain." ''Air Classics'' Vol. 11, no. 10, October 1975. |
* Underwood, John. "A Racer for Ireland, Bombers for Spain." ''Air Classics'' Vol. 11, no. 10, October 1975. |
||
{{refend}} |
|||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
{{commons category|Bellanca}} |
{{commons category|Bellanca 28-70}} |
||
* [http://www.aerofiles.com/_bella.html aerofiles.com] |
* [http://www.aerofiles.com/_bella.html aerofiles.com] |
||
| Line 132: | Line 105: | ||
{{Bellanca}} |
{{Bellanca}} |
||
[[Category:United States military utility aircraft |
[[Category:1930s United States military utility aircraft]] |
||
[[Category:Bellanca aircraft|28-70]] |
[[Category:Bellanca aircraft|28-70]] |
||
[[Category:Racing aircraft]] |
[[Category:Racing aircraft]] |
||
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] |
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] |
||
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] |
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] |
||
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1934]] |
|||
| 28-70 Irish Swoop | |
|---|---|
| |
| Bellanca 28-70 as "Irish Swoop" | |
| Role | Air racing aircraft
Type of aircraft
|
| Manufacturer | Bellanca |
| Designer | Albert W. Mooney |
| First flight | 1 September 1934 |
| Primary user | Irish Hospitals' Trust |
| Number built | 1 |
| Variants | Bellanca 28-90 Flash |
The Bellanca 28-70 was a long-range air racer designed for James Fitzmaurice, Irish pioneer aviator, who christened it Irish Swoop. Although it was built in time for the 1934 MacRobertson Race from England to Australia, it was never destined to be a competitive long-distance racer but it was ultimately reborn as a high-speed bomber.
In preparation for the upcoming 1934 MacRobertson Race from England to Australia, Col. James "Fitz" Fitzmaurice, former commanding officer of the Irish Free State Air Force travelled to the United States in spring 1934 to commission a long-distance air racing aircraft.[1] After approaching the Lockheed Aircraft and Northrop Aircraft companies, he sought out Giuseppe Mario Bellanca.[2] Although he did not have a product to sell, Bellanca made a proposal to Fitzmaurice to build a "one-off" specialty aircraft for $30,000.00.[2]
In May 1934, Fitzmaurice signed an agreement for a new aircraft called the Bellanca 28-70. Bellanca turned to a conventional wooden frame with fabric covering but the purposeful profile did not look like any of the previous company designs. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney 700 hp double-row "Wasp Jr.", the long streamlined fuselage merged a tandem cockpit area topped by an extended canopy into a low-wing monoplane configuration with retractable main landing gear. An unusual set of top and bottom wing braces were utilized. Designed for a fuel capacity of 400 gallons, in order to have long "legs," a total of 600 gallons of fuel were aboard, raising the gross weight to 8,350 lbs.[3]
After receiving the aircraft, Fitzmaurice and his co-pilot, Eric "Jock" Bonar conducted a rapid series of preflight tests in New York before carrying out the first flight on 1 September 1934.[3] The initial flight showed problems in aileron controls that necessitated a modification. Following a successful second test flight, the aircraft painted as "race 29" was crated and shipped by sea on the liner SS Bremen with a final destination at Bremerhaven, after the aircraft was unable to be offloaded at its first stop in Southampton, when the small ship that was to transport the Bellanca broke its towline.
Christened the Irish Swoop, Fitzmaurice and Bonar took off in the racer on 9 October, arriving in Great Britain barely in time for the start of the MacRobertson Race.[3] The ferry flight was problematic with a cracked cowling forcing a landing at Amsterdam.[4]
The MacRobertson race rules committee considered the Fitzmaurice and Bonar entry not "race-ready".[4] A more serious problem involved the Bellanca exceeding its design specifications wherein it had been certified for a 400-gallon fuel capacity and now was carrying much more fuel and weight without being recertified. Assigned a penalty that limited its fuel to 120 gallons, Fitzmaurice withdrew the Irish Swoop hours before the race, unwilling to sacrifice his fuel load.
After being recertified for its new configuration, Fitzmaurice and Bonar undertook a long-distance record flight on 29 October 1934 intending to set a new London-Baghdad mark (4,100 km / 2546 mi).[5] Over Belgium, however, problems with a fairing and the cowling caused an end to the attempt. The Bellanca was shipped back to the US to finish its tests, but was badly damaged in a landing accident on 15 April 1935 when a gust of wind flipped the aircraft on its back during a proving flight undertaken by Bonar and Bellanca mechanic Eddie Griscome.[5] In 1936, the aircraft was rebuilt with a 900 hp P&W Twin Wasp and redesignated the 28-90.
Purchased by British long-distance air racer Jim Mollison for $28,000, he renamed the aircraft Dorothy and used the Bellanca for a new transatlantic speed record, but in 1937 sold the aircraft to the Republican government in Spain.[5]
The Bellanca 28-90 Flash was developed into a bomber in the 1930s for export to Spain to take part in the Spanish Civil War. Although none reached Spain, the order was diverted to China where the aircraft briefly saw service. Later, an additional batch destined for Spain ended up in Mexico. A total of 43 aircraft were produced.
Ireland
SpainGeneral characteristics
Performance
|
Bellanca/AviaBellanca aircraft
| |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft |
| ||||||||
| Companies |
| ||||||||
| People |
| ||||||||
