CF-AWR
A Bellanca Aircruiser carrying uranium concentrate crashed in northern Ontario in the winter of 1947. It was so badly damaged that the company abandoned it.
When it arrived at the Museum in 1974, the wood and fabric had rotted, the steel had rusted and trees were growing through it. Museum volunteers are restoring its cotton wings and rebuilding its fuselage.
This aircraft type was designed in 1935, and CF-AWR was also built in 1935.
It was the second largest aircraft operating in Canada at the time, and was nicknamed 'The Big Bellanca'.
Specifications
Wingspan: 19.81 m (65')
Length: 13.16 m (43' 2")
Height: 4.04 m (13' 3")
Weight: 5,171 kg (11,400 lbs)
Engine: 700 hp Wright Cyclone SGR 1820 (66-70) or 750 hp Pratt & Whitney R1590 Hornet (66-75)
Max. Speed: 225 km/h (140 mph)
Max. Range: 1,690 km (1,050 miles)
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Tales from the sky
The Big Bellanca is currently a restoration project of a group of dedicated Museum Volunteers. Separate teams working on the wings, fuselage and engine meet at the museum each Tuesday and Thursday morning to continue the long road to restoration.
In August 2006, the team reported that the area aft of the fuel tank bay on the L.H. inner wing was fabric-covered and doped to the final spray color coat. Sewing the fabric to the L.H. main wing panel was completed. The engine exhaust shroud has been completely disassembled, cleaned, repaired, reassembled in reinstalled on the aircraft. Fabrication of the engine nacelle cowling has been completed.
Click here to see a virtual tour of the inside of this airplane.
