Ed Zaruk's Archives

The first Bellanca Airbus was built in 1930.   Twenty-three were built in all.  It began to be referred to as the Aircruiser after 1934.  Depending upon how the cabin interior was arranged it was capable of carrying 12 to 14 passengers(later versions could carry 15). With a Wright aircooled supercharged radial engine (Cyclone), rated at 715 hp. the Aircruiser could carry It could carry 4,000lb payloads at a speed of between 145-155 mph, a useful load greater than its empty weight. This was in the mid-1930's; Fokkers and Ford Trimotors could not come close to this capacity, and they were both multi-engine airplanes.

In 1934, US Federal regulations outlawed single engine transports on US airlines. Canadian interests utilized several of the Aircruisers to support the exploration and development of mining, ferrying supplies and ore, for quite some time.  The distinctive silhouette of the plane is derived from the aerodynamically shaped triangular lifting struts extending down from the bottom of the fuselage and continuing up to a point outboard the main wing.  This gave raise to it being called "The Flying W."

The last flying Aircruiser, CF-BTW, was owned by Barney Lamm of Ontario Central Airlines. This film clip was supplied courtesy of Fraser Jansen.  It shows CF-BTW in Transair service in northern Manitoba in the mid 1950s.  Later it would serve with Hooker Air out of Pickle Lake, Ontario, then find its way into Ontario Central Airlines where Barney stored it at the Gimli hangar until he sold it to US interests .The airplane was flown from Manitoba to Oregon, where it is now on display at the Blimp Hangar Museum in Tillamook, Oregon.