Bellanca 28-90b

[Milocat 4,857]

The Bellanca 28-90b "Flash" was a high-speed light bomber and attack aircraft modified from the successful Bellanca 28-70 and 28-90 long-distance racing aircraft.  Originally the Bellanca 28-70 was designed for the 1934 MacRobertson Britain to Australia air race, but entered the competition too late to participate.  After it was damaged in an accident, the aircraft was rebuilt around a more powerful 960 horsepower engine and redesignated the Bellanca 28-90.  Scottish aviator Jim Mollison bought the aircraft and used it to set a new transatlantic speed record in 1936.  A year later, he flew the aircraft to Spain and sold it to the Republican government for their use in the Spanish Civil War.  Impressed with the design, the Republican government ordered 20 aircraft to supply their underequipped air force.  As the U.S. was, at the time, prohibited from selling arms to European nations actively at war under the neutrality acts, a plan was developed to sell the aircraft under the guise of long-distance mail carriers for Air France.  The Air France logo was even painted on the aircraft to further this deception.  Eventually, the truth was revealed and the sale was called off.  The completed order of 20 aircraft were purchased by the Chinese government instead and shipped there, where they were outfitted for combat with the addition of machine guns and bomb racks.  Unfortunately, seven of the aircraft were destroyed on the ground by Japanese bombers and most or all of the remainder were lost in accidents, without making much impact in the air war against Japan.  A further 22 aircraft were built and bought by Mexico, where they were used until 1940, when they were grounded due to safety concerns.  

 

The Bellanca 28-90b would be a great aircraft addition to the Chinese tree, a rare unique aircraft for them to fly.  Unfortunately, information on the model is quite sparse and it had very little impact in the actual war between China and Japan.  Still, I don't think that should disqualify this plane from being added to the game.

 

Specifications: 

Engines:  One Pratt and Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engine, 960 hp

Length:  8.08m

Wingspan:  14.08m

Height:  2.64m

Loaded Weight:   3,560 kg (7,849 lb)

Maximum Speed:  450 kmh (280 mph)

Crew:  2 (Pilot, Gunner)

Armament:  Four 7.62mm M1919 Browning machine guns in wings (unknown rounds), one 7.62mm M1919 Browning machine gun in dorsal mount (unknown rounds)

Bombload:  Light underwing bomb racks for 100lb and similar bombs, up to 725kg total capacity

Number Built:  43

 

Images:  

Spoiler

 

Sources:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellanca_28-90 

http://www.aerofiles.com/bella-flash.html 

http://www.aerofiles.com/_bella.html 

https://www.laahs.com/bellanca-war-planes-of-latin-america/ 

http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/bellanca28-90.html 

Edited November 7, 2019 by Milocat

[ItssLuBu 1,803]

Approved and open for discussion. 

[Milocat 4,857]

Just now, ItssLuBu said:

Approved and open for discussion. 

 

Thank you!  

[Josephs_Piano 7,044]

Quote

The Bellanca 28-90b would be a great aircraft addition to the Chinese tree, a rare unique aircraft for them to fly.  Unfortunately, information on the model is quite sparse and it had very little impact in the actual war between China and Japan.  Still, I don't think that should disqualify this plane from being added to the game.

 

+1 - a better offering than many existing items in various trees!!

[Solarmod 1,204]

+1! I support.

[AspandaIV 376]

Even tho this aircraft is built in the US, the Americans never used this aircraft however the Chinese did so it's at least will be a unique aircraft for the Chinese Attacker line

 

+1

[CaID 8,996]

just a few things you had miss up there. the order of the bellanca 28-90b to China was assembled by American specialist in China after it was been shipped in crate， but once the American show clearly they wouldn't provide the finalization of the armament, china start to install their own bomb rack and machine gun with the help of the American volunteer. the 28-90 was raised to FB level (fighter bomber) which means a bombrack of 725kg of bomb of small size (likely about 25-50-100kg) and 5 machine gun (4 in the wing 1 in the rear)

one plane was built to this standard and tested but proven to be less maneuverable than expected so it was to be a strike bomber trainer. 9 other was to be converted to this level and used as trainer but it's unclear if they did it. a Japanese raider destroy 12 of the 28-90 before they was armed with their bomb racks. so at most 8 could had been armed.

 

for the wing armament. the type of machine gun is unspecified but china was usually using 7.62mm M1919 MG as standard planes armament. it was what the Hawk II, Hawk III, Hawk 75A5, gladiator and both zhoung 28 had and likely what they used on the 28-90FB as well.

 

http://aviarmor.net/aww2/aircraft/usa/bellanca_2890.htm

what about the many northdrop and vultee china had used. I think to reckon they had a few unique strike bomber amounts of them. one was designed exclusively FOR china even if it was never put into production. the vultee V11c I think to remember. 

[Milocat 4,857]

7 hours ago, CaID said:

just a few things you had miss up there. the order of the bellanca 28-90b to China was assembled by American specialist in China after it was been shipped in crate， but once the American show clearly they wouldn't provide the finalization of the armament, china start to install their own bomb rack and machine gun with the help of the American volunteer. the 28-90 was raised to FB level (fighter bomber) which means a bombrack of 725kg of bomb of small size (likely about 25-50-100kg) and 5 machine gun (4 in the wing 1 in the rear)

one plane was built to this standard and tested but proven to be less maneuverable than expected so it was to be a strike bomber trainer. 9 other was to be converted to this level and used as trainer but it's unclear if they did it. a Japanese raider destroy 12 of the 28-90 before they was armed with their bomb racks. so at most 8 could had been armed.

 

for the wing armament. the type of machine gun is unspecified but china was usually using 7.62mm M1919 MG as standard planes armament. it was what the Hawk II, Hawk III, Hawk 75A5, gladiator and both zhoung 28 had and likely what they used on the 28-90FB as well.

 

http://aviarmor.net/aww2/aircraft/usa/bellanca_2890.htm

what about the many northdrop and vultee china had used. I think to reckon they had a few unique strike bomber amounts of them. one was designed exclusively FOR china even if it was never put into production. the vultee V11c I think to remember. 

 

Interesting, I had one source state that the aircraft carried four forward-facing guns but I couldn't find any confirmation of this anywhere else or photos of the aircraft with more than one fixed forward gun.  

 

Having four guns and a 725kg bomb capacity would make this aircraft an even better addition though!

[Miki_Hoshii 2,449]

Heres some more pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

[redpipola 49]

+1 
A great plane for the attacker line for china