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Famous
Bellanca Airplanes
The Wright-Bellanca WB-2 was introduced in 1926.
It was powered with the newest
"Whirlwind" engine and was rated at
220hp. Charles Lindbergh tried to purchase this
plane but both Wright and Bellanca were reluctant
to sell. Ironically, this as the airplane that
Chamberlin and Levine flew to Germany about a
month after Lindbergh’s successful flight to
Paris. 
Early in 1927,
Bellanca and the Wright Company parted. The WB-2
now known as "Columbia" was flown by
Chamberlin and Bert Acosta to a new endurance
record of over 51 hours at Roosevelt Field. This
was a test for the planned flight to Paris. After
Lindbergh flew to Paris the Orteig prize was won.
Chamberlin and Levine then flew from New York to
Eislenban Germany a flight of some 3,900 miles.
The photo below was taken May 20, 1927 the day of
Lindbergh’s flight. New York – Paris
was on the side of the plane to show their
original intended flight. Reg. NX237.
On June 24-25, 1931 another Trans-Atlantic flight
was made in the Bellanca named
"Liberty". It was flown from Harbour
Grace, piloted by Holger Hoiriis and Otto Hillig
as passenger. After 32 hours, they landed at
Krefeld Germany and then continued on to
Copenhagen.
June 29-30, 1934 the former "Liberty"
made its second crossing of the Atlantic, now
named "City of Warsaw". The two
brothers, Joseph and Benjamin Adomowitz just
escaped a crash on takeoff. After leaving New
York, they flew for 23 1/2 hours and landed in
St. Andre de Mossel, France and then on to
Germany and Warsaw. Reg. NR 797W
Bellanca
Monoplane "Liberty" – Newfoundland
to Germany June 24-25, 1931
Holger Hoiriis, Pilot – Otto Hillig,
Passenger
Otto Hillig and Holger Hoiriis left Harbor Grace
in a Bellanca monoplane which sped out across the
Atlantic Ocean with no more serious purpose than
to fulfill the desire of a 55 year-old
German-born photographer and a youthful
Danish-born pilot to visit their homelands and
indulge in "some pigs knuckles, sauerkraut
and beer." Forced to fly high over
continuous cloud banks, Hiliig persuaded his
pilot (who after 32 hours was fighting off sleep)
to land. They came down at Krefeld, Germany and
continued on to Bremen then Copenhagen.
Bellanca
Monoplane "City of Warsaw" –
Newfoundland to France June 29-30, 1934
Joseph Adamowicz – Benjamin Adamowicz
Escaping a crash at the takeoff by the narrowest
of margins the "flying brother act"
took their plane, the former "Liberty",
for its second crossing of the Atlantic. Halfway
down the runway the plane lifted slightly, then
settled back and plunged forward again. Then at
the very end of the runway with rough ground,
boulders and trees directly ahead, the plane took
to the air, gradually glided upward and cleared
the treetops. With a helping wind from the west
on their tail, but clouds and rain squalls about
them to test their new-learned skill at blind
navigation they soared over the Atlantic. After
flying 23, hours 32 minutes they landed at St.
Andre de Mossoi.
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©
2004 The Long Island Early Fliers Club, P.O. Box
221, Bethpage, NY 11714-0221 • info@longislandearlyfliers.org
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