Bellanca YO-50
Bellanca · United States · first flew 1940 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Bellanca YO-50 was a United States prototype observation aircraft, built for the United States Army in 1940. It was a high-wing braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage and extensive cabin glazing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.72 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Braced high-wing monoplane with extensive cabin glazing
- Inverted V12 engine giving a Fieseler Storch-like look
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage
A braced high-wing observation monoplane with extensive cabin glazing and an inverted V12 engine, reminiscent of the Fieseler Storch.
Specifications
- The Bellanca YO-50 has a length of 10.72 m (35 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.92 m (56 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 203 km/h (126 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Its inverted V engine, a 420 hp Ranger V-770-1 V12, made it resemble its German equivalent, the Fieseler Storch.
Variants
Three examples were built.
Where you'll see it
Three were purchased by the Army for evaluation against the Stinson YO-49 and the Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly. The Stinson won the production contract and no further YO-50s were built.
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