Bellanca Tractor Biplane

1916 Bellanca Tractor Biplane

R/C Slow Flight Model

front view

This model of the 1916 Bellanca CD Tractor Biplane was inspired by a Peanut Scale plan by Don Butman in the first model airplane magazine I ever saw, a copy of Model Builder from November 1972. I have had great success with a rubber powered FF version at that size, and decided it would be a fun project for my first slow fly R/C model.
Initial test flights occurred on October 27 1999 outdoors in what seemed like no wind. The first flight was with a 8x50 ma battery. Next I tried a 6x120ma pack. Performance seemed similar with both batteries. As near as I could tell, the flight was very slow, and graceful. Micro turbulence was abundant and made a more accurate flight assessment difficult. With more experience the model has proved itself quite capable outdoors, though is obviously wind limited.
Further testing indoors was a great success. With the 50 ma pack, flight duration is just over 3 minutes. With the larger 6x120 pack, initial climb is slightly reduced due to a lower voltage and higher weight, though duration increased to over 9:30. I am now flying with an 8x120 ma pack, and am happy with both the performance, and flight times over 8 minutes. The model will turn quite sharply and has be flown within a smaller than standard basketball court.
rear view

span: 33"
area: 340
weight: 6.5 oz
wing loading: 2.75 oz/sq ft
motor: DC1717
prop: Braun 26cm x 13cm
battery: 8x50 ma, 6x120ma, 8x120ma
servos: CS-10bb
rx: Skyhooks and Rigging
Hybrid with ESC

Pilots Construction is traditional stick and japanese tissue, doped with 50:50 non tautening nitrate. The aluminium cowling is a discontinued Micafilm color. The wheels are a pair of prototype 2 3/4" wheels protected by a sprung axle.
The pilots are enlargements of the profile pilots shown on the original peanut plan. If I remember the article correctly, they were the work of Don's son. The drawings were laminated to light 1/8" sheet balsa cut to shape.

If you would like to know more about this model, it was featured as a construction article in the January 2000 issue of RCMicroFlight. Folded full sized plans are available for purchase. They are $15 US postpaid. If you are interested, a personal check or money order is fine. My office address is Maplegate Media Group, 650 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield, CT 06877. In the meantime, get that current project finished up so you can sweep off the work bench and start your own Bellanca soon. I'm off on another (slow) flight.

liftoff
Thanks to all who provided inspiration and assistance for this delightful project.
- Thayer

Other Builders' Models of the Bellanca

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