Wright-Bellanca WB-2 explained

The Wright-Bellanca WB-2, was a high wing monoplane aircraft designed by Giuseppe Mario Bellanca, initially for Wright Aeronautical then later Columbia Aircraft Corp.

Based on its all-wood forerunner, the Wright-Bellanca WB-1, only one was produced, variously named Columbia, Miss Columbia, and later Maple Leaf. The WB was the second in a series of designs by Bellanca, following his prior fabric-covered all-wood CE biplane.

Development

In 1925, Clarence Duncan Chamberlin was friends with, and worked as chief test pilot for, the aircraft designer Giuseppe Mario Bellanca. A flight instructor in World War I, Chamberlin was an early customer of Bellanca designs, purchasing the only Bellanca CE, built when he was working for the Maryland Pressed Steel Company. Through Chamberlin, Bellanca secured a position as a consultant for the Wright Aeronautical company to produce a 5–6 passenger aircraft to demonstrate their new Wright Whirlwind J-4 engine. Bellanca built an all-wood aircraft, the WB-1 in 1926, which crashed at Curtiss Field in an attempt on the world non-refueled endurance record. The WB-2 follow-on aircraft, made of fabric-covered steel tubing, was already in development to test the updated Wright Whirlwind J-5.[1] The aircraft had some features intended for long-distance overseas flights built in. The landing gear could be dropped off, to prevent flipping in a water landing. Once on the water, the large gas tanks could provide flotation, and a saw was carried to drop the dead engine weight if needed.[2]

Operational history

The WB-2 Columbia was introduced at the 1926 National Air Races flown by Lieut C.C. Champion, where it won both efficiency records.[3] Wright Aeronautical chose to continue to develop the Whirlwind engine, but discontinue aircraft operations to avoid competition in profitable engine sales with rival aircraft manufacturers. Bellanca left Wright Aeronautical, with the rights to the WB-2, and the WB-2 prototype purchased for $15,500 and formed a new interest, Columbia Aircraft Company, with the investor Charles Levine.[4] Levine became a millionaire at the young age of 28 by reselling surplus armaments to the United States government. When partnering with Bellanca, he had plans to put the WB-2 in production. The plans never came through, and the aircraft would not see production until Bellanca manufactured an updated version later in 1928 with his own company.

Shortly after the record flight, on April 24, 1927, the WB-2 was christened in Prohibition-era ginger ale the Columbia by Levine's 8-year-old daughter. Later that day, Chamberlin safely landed the plane with two children on board with a broken landing gear.[1]

The second meeting in New York was attended by Levine, Bellanca, and Chamberlin. With check in hand, Levine added a stipulation that Columbia Aircraft would select the flight crew, to which Lindbergh objected. Reminding Lindbergh that the WB-2 was the only plane that could make the flight at the time, they made him leave to reconsider and call back the next day. The terms did not change, and Lindbergh returned to St. Louis without an airplane.[5] Lindbergh then approached Travel Air Manufacturing Company, asking for a Travel Air 5000 modified with a Wright Whirlwind motor and was declined.[6] Lindbergh also inquired what it would cost to buy a Fokker for the attempt; he was given a quote of $100,000 for a custom trimotor, and was told that Fokker would not build a single-engine craft for a transatlantic flight.[7] Lindbergh instead purchased a single-place aircraft from Ryan aircraft, the Spirit of St. Louis, for $6000.[8]

On December 30, 1927, Bellanca left Columbia aircraft, to form Bellanca Aircraft Company, taking with him again the rights to the WB-2 series of aircraft.[17]

In 1929 Columbia placed second in a race from New York to California piloted by Commander John Iseman, Lieut. J Farnum.

Maple Leaf was destroyed January 25, 1934, in a hangar fire at the Bellanca factory in Newcastle, Delaware.[15]

Artifacts

Variants

Wright-Bellanca WB-1
  • The all-wood forerunner to the WB-2, Using a Wright Whirlwind J-4
    Wright-Bellanca WB-2
  • The record-setting Columbia, (later Maple Leaf) developed from the WB-1

    References

    Notes
  • Bibliography
  • Notes and References

    1. Book: The Lindbergh of Canada: the Erroll Boyd story . Ross Smyth.
    2. Web site: The Aircraft Bellanca Columbia WB-2 . 13 July 2011 . dead . https://archive.today/20130212062930/http://www.suite101.de/content/erster-nonstop-flug-von-new-york-nach-deutschland-im-juni-1927-a99991 . 12 February 2013.
    3. Web site: Bellanca Achievements. 17 November 2010.
    4. Web site: GIUSEPPE MARIO "GM" BELLANCA. 17 November 2010.
    5. Book: The Spirit of St. Louis. Charles A. Lindbergh, Reeve Lindbergh. 1953 .
    6. Book: Wings: a history of aviation from kites to the space age. registration. Tom D. Crouch. 2003 . W. W. Norton & Company . 9780393057676 .
    7. Book: The Flight of the Century: Charles Lindbergh and the Rise of American Aviation. registration. Thomas Kessner. 2010 . Oup USA . 978-0-19-532019-0 .
    8. Web site: Giuseppe Mario Bellanca. 17 November 2010.
    9. Book: The spectacle of flight: aviation and the Western imagination, 1920-1950. registration. Robert Wohl.
    10. Web site: Bellanca Aircraft. 17 November 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101121085815/http://centennialofflight.gov/essay/GENERAL_AVIATION/bellanca/GA1.htm. 21 November 2010.
    11. News: The New York Times. Levine Abandons Bellanca Flight. 22 May 1927.
    12. Web site: Clarence D. Chamberlin Recalls Historic Flight, Explains Why Lindbergh Beat Levine Across Atlantic. 13 July 2011.
    13. News: The News Journal. Delaware's Flying Machines. RICK MULROONEY. October 14, 2009.
    14. Book: Conquest of the Atlantic: pioneer flights 1919-1939. Phil Munson.
    15. Web site: WB-2. 17 November 2010.
    16. Book: East to the dawn: the life of Amelia Earhart. registration. Susan Butler. 1997 . Addison-Wesley . 9780201311440 . Susan Butler (American writer).
    17. Book: history in the making: 80 turbulent years in the American general aviation. Donald M. Pattillo. 1998. McGraw Hill Professional . 978-0-07-049448-0.
    18. Book: East to the Dawn The Life of Amelia Earhart. registration. Susan Butler. 1999 . 9780306808876 .
    19. Web site: MABEL BOLL IN RACE TO FLY OVER ATLANTIC. 18 November 2010.
    20. Book: The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart. registration. Mary S. Lovell. 1989 . St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition .
    21. Web site: Mabel Boll. 18 November 2010.
    22. The New Yorker. Missing Woman Amelia Earhart's flight. Judith Thurman. September 14, 2009.
    23. This World, Vol. 2, No. 21 San Francisco Chronicle. September 11, 1938.
    24. Web site: Columbia A Little Competition for Miss Earhart. 18 November 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110411031357/http://www.hrgrace.ca/air.html. 11 April 2011.
    25. Web site: Ashtray, Wright-Bellanca WB-2. 17 November 2010.