Flying The Bellanca Cruisair 14-13

[@robertdavis6708]

Pilot needed a Gurney bubble to relieve his head. Pilot also knew his aircraft thoroughly. What a beautiful bird, hundreds of hours in that rebuild. Thanks for taking me along for the demo. Blue skys.

[@jts4233]

Awesome rebuild - she is the queen of the skys!

[@afrock1000]

The Cardboard Constellation. Lucky to get several flights in the 70s. Great fun.

[@christheother9088]

I was an airport kid in the 70's and an old guy took me for a ride in one of these. Never knew what it was til now. I remember him cranking up the gear!

[@sparky56123]

My father bought one of these when I was a kid. It was faded red it had a hole in the wing and needed an overhaul, so he landed it in my grandfathers corn field no crop of course hahahaha it took all of the field to get it landed . He taxied up to the barn and it was put in and dismantled . My dad and his partner rebuilt the Franklin engine with an FAA inspector watching. My mother made all the wing socks french seams the FAA man said she was better than the factory she had an ancient white sewing machine that my dad electrified for her. My dad and another man put the new fabric on the body and the new covers on the tail and wings then came the buterate dope. Several coats! My dad had a neighbor spray paint it for him it was aqua on the bottom yellow and black stripe on the side and seafood green on the rest. He put 2 eagle decals on the tailettes. Can't think of the real name I know they called these mini bamboo bombers. All went perfect they pit it on a truck took it too the local airport finished assembly of the wings and ran the engine in. Soon he was a happy flyer, until we got sad news a guy stole the plane flew to Oshkosh and back without my dads permission and upon his return to the local airport he wiped the landing gear and belly landed it. Totally my dads fun and hard work. This was 1963. I was 7 at the time. The man had nothing so that's what my father got. Sad time for him. Last plane he owned. Just a note he had an aronca champ that he also recovered in the barn, then he had a Waco UPF 7 that one was like new. Then came the Bellanca which I think was a 1948. This brought back good memories for me. Thank you!

[@bootstrapjesse]

What a great story! Thanks for sharing that.

[@tetreaulthank4068]

I would have accidentally run the thief over with my car ! Heartbreaking story

[@sparky56123]

At the time my dad wanted to I guess, he got his in the end people hated him . He tripped over the airport collie dog and said the dog attacked him I say the dog was a good judge of character. That dog would not hard a flea. He lost but my dad was ready to sue him if he won. Oh well it wasn't meant to be! I wish I had a pi turbo share he did a beautiful job on the refurbish. But was ruined in one landing mistake. Thank you all for your kind comments it shows the love of these old aircraft! There is an unspoken kinship with pilots and aircraft owner. I wish you all God speed!

[@mhilderbrand7693]

Thank you for sharing! Pilot did a great job explaining his airplane!

[@BoopSnoot]

The graphics in these flight simulator games are amazing, practically looks real. The human faces still have a big of uncanny valley though and needs work.

[@alangeisdorf4198]

awesome to watch that. Pilot was very thorough explaining handling characteristics. Very beautiful aircraft.

[@blancolirio]

Very cool!

[@danobrien3601]

good demo and explanation . Looks like an aircraft with lots of style

[@beegee22]

This was a very enjoyable and informative ride=-along. It's a beautiful airplane impeccably restored by what we see of it. 👍

[@davecrupel2817]

Wow, that is an oldie. Great video!

[@KB4QAA]

Delightful piece of history! Thanks.

[@vh2q]

I just purchased one of these in Caldwell ID. Getting it ready to fly down to Coleman TX in a few weeks. Would love to compare notes.

[@vh2q]

Flew mine for the first time recently ... some differences (14-13-2 w electric gear, main gear fairings, and 150HP Franklin). Had some questions.

[@vh2q]

Well Brad I finally got mine N86826 back to BWD via NV, UT, AZ, and NM after about a year of mechanical delays and have been flying her from here. Mine has the same pulldown pilot window setup but is missing the trim below and around the window. So I wonder if I could get some interior shots so I have something to go on. Ditto the door upholstery, all I have is the molded aluminum window surround.

[@hannodearing1366]

With Mr. Donner on the right seat, I think I could learn to fly pretty much everything including Volkswagens and Milk cans :)

[@SinnerSince1962]

I got lost in time watching this. I felt like I was there with Brand and Erik.

[@mannygarcia1810]

9:18 so here we go for the fun...😮

[@donny526]

What a fine aircraft

[@keithkuehn4289]

What a beauty!

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Very nice, thank you.

[@pilotkamalov7132]

Super airplane, super video. Thanks for your video!!?

[@drmichaelshea]

I loved flying airplanes and wish I still could. Thanks for the reminder.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

My friend had one years ago and he loved her. It's an airplane that you flew or it flew you. That what Ollie told me.

[@bdon661]

I'm not photogenic or articulate.... But I'm thankful that my mediocre flying skills with this Daily Driver airplane have been memorialize by Erik. We flew on a gusty, bumpy day, which was regrettable. But those who understand "Brad Speak Without Profanity" might learn a little about how this nice little airplane flies and how the archaic systems work. Thanks again, Erik.

[@andrewsmactips]

Wonderful stuff. Thanks for sharing your ride with us. Very educational.

[@jeffcard3623]

You have a beautiful plane, and I can tell that Erik enjoyed flying it very much! Phenomenal landing too!

[@michaelsamson3276]

I owned one for 30 years. Special plane.

[@leeoldershaw956]

There are three points to adjust an Aeromatic prop and they all interact. . It can be adjusted for static rpm, redline at liftoff full power climb and reduced rpm at cruise. It takes a lot of fiddling and flight test.

[@markleightonson1770]

Sweet!

[@pilotkamalov7132]

Super pilot's!)))

[@benschrepple8808]

I know this was 4 years ago, but do you remember the approximate height of the pilot in the left seat?

[@ErikJohnston]

I’m not sure, but maybe around 6ft or so

[@salnichols94805]

Erik, does your plane have the color coded gear indicator tabs sticking out of the topside of the wings?

[@DarrenWhittington]

Lol some interesting cranking action there 😅

[@bdon661]

34 up, 34 down. Every day in the Bellanca is "Shoulder Day" ;-)

[@brianlott7571]

@@bdon661 One Cruisair owner discovered that his gear only required 32 turns but he could actually crank in 2-3 additional turns which just placed extra tension into the system. Something to check with your IA when the ship is up on Jack’s.

[@bdon661]

@@brianlott7571 The book actually calls for "approximately 32 turns". Mine seems to like 34 and it doesn't tweak the chains, but you are exactly right. If you crank too many turns, it DOES put excess tension on the chains and eventually makes them too long.

[@ervinthompson6598]

Sounded like cranking a Twin Beech......!!

[@gerardpully762]

The gyros don´t start working properly until the plane is on take-off phase. That´s perfectly normal? What if the gyros fail after take-off? At any rate, your video is very interesting as a showcase for the ideas, methods and design by old Bellanca. You are a pretty tall fellow, or is it that I had the impression that the cabin had more headroom.

[@leeoldershaw956]

There are three gyro instruments powered by suction from the venturi mounted outside in the airstream. The venturi has no moving parts and is extremely reliable. It can ice up in winter weather that the airplane has no business flying in. The gyros start spinning when the engine is tested prior to takeoff due to propeller blast and come to operating speed early in the takeoff.

[@terryallen9546]

No checklist? I need a checklist to make my breakfast!

[@tazzinasellout7968]

Un saluto dall Italia ✌️. Molto interessante. Complimenti. Mi sono goduto il VOLO, nonostante io non parli bene "L INGLESE",..... I would very much like to have the subtitles in Italian, but perhaps I am asking too much. Thanks anyway, for this great video.

[@ceisarsrepair7958]

Beautiful craftsmanship but would it have killed them to make the cabin just a mere 6 inches wider??? Rubbing shoulders for a few hundred miles makes for a frustrating fight.

[@bobbyguns100]

KZbin commercials have become unbearable! It’s just so hard to watch anything on the phone app this is just wrong now ! It’s really sick what advertisement is doing these days it’s damn near criminal !

[@BruleWanderer]

Problem with this video is that you dont get to see the airplane at all

[@BruleWanderer]

actually, you can see it in the very start of the video.....my bad