Bellanca 14-13-2 Cruisair Senior.        NC74496          (c/n  1591)


                              

                                  The Bellanca Crusair was first introduced in 1937 and production was carried on after WW II.
                                  Both pre-war and post-war models are basically the same.   The two photographs on this page
                                  were both obtained from the Bellanca Aircraft Company long before its assets were purchased by
                                  Northern Aircraft (which became Downer Industries) in 1959.  They both depict the same aircraft,
                                  NC74496 which was a run of the mill production model.  (i.e. not a company demonstrator).
                                  Although ostensibly a four-seater, the accommodations for a long trip tended to be a trifle cramped.
                                  Nevertheless the Bellancas have an excellent turn of speed and have been known to approach the
                                  advertised cruising speed of 180 m.p.h. IAS.   An excellent history of the Cruisair Senior can be
                                  found on the Smithsonian's site at:
                                                            http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/bellanc2.htm