Bellanca Viking

Last updated
17-30 Viking
Viking 30456.jpg
A 1972 Model 17-30A
RoleUtility aircraft
Manufacturer Alexandria Aircraft
Bellanca
First flight 1967
Number built1,356
Bellanca Super Viking landing Bellanca Super Viking.jpg
Bellanca Super Viking landing

The Bellanca Viking and Super Viking are a series of single-engine, four-seat, high performance, retractable gear aircraft manufactured in the USA during the 1960s and 1970s. The aircraft developed through modifications of classic designs by the aviation pioneer Giuseppe Bellanca. A total of 1,356 Vikings have been produced with most production between 1968 and 1975 (1019 planes).

Contents

Development and design

The Viking is a derivative of the Bellanca Cruisair, a retractable gear taildragger with two extra vertical fins on the tips of the horizontal stabilizer. The 14-13 Cruisair series was developed into the larger, more powerful 14-19 Cruisemaster in the early 1950s. After the original Bellanca company went out of business, Downer Aircraft took over the type certificate and built the 14-19-2 Cruisemaster by mating the airframe with a Continental O-470 of 230 hp. In 1958, Downer redesigned the airplane with a nosewheel and fuel injected IO-470 of 260 hp, and redesignated it the 260. The 14-19-3 260 retained the wire-braced triple tail into the 1962 model year. After that year, the triple tail design was modified to a single tail with the same aggregate surface area, and manufactured as the Model 260A. The later Vikings retain the oversized vertical fin that contributes to the distinctive flying characteristics of the aircraft. The Viking model was born out of discussions at Downer for a bigger version of the "Model 260" with at least 300 horsepower. The company was based in Minnesota and employed skilled craftsmen who manufactured the wing from spruce, and the new 300 hp model was named the "Viking" in respect to the many Scandinavians of the area.

The first Model 17 Viking appeared in 1967 called the "17-30." It was powered by a 300 hp Continental IO-520-K. In 1969, a Viking powered by a 290 hp (later 300 hp) Lycoming IO-540 was introduced, either normally aspirated (17-31) or turbocharged (17-31TC).

Bellanca Super Viking photographed at Centennial Airport SuperVikingAtCentennial.jpg
Bellanca Super Viking photographed at Centennial Airport

Over the years there were a number of refinements to the aircraft. The original hydraulic gear and flap actuation system was redesigned in 1968 introducing electric flaps. In 1969, the FAA issued Type Certificate A18CE and the aircraft built under that design were designated the "A" series "Super Vikings". Aside from refinements already made to late Viking 300 models, the new 300A Vikings (17-30A, 17-31A and 17-31ATC) had a gross weight increase to 3,325 lbs. The original complex fuel system with five tanks and two fuel selectors allowing eight possible combinations of selector settings was simplified to a left, right and auxiliary system in 1974. After several years of financial losses, Viking sales became profitable again in 1978. [1] In 1979, Continental-powered Vikings sported a fully enclosed nosewheel thanks to a redesign of the engine mount. This necessitated the use of cowl flaps for the first time on the Viking but resulted in a 12 mph increase. In 1979 production of the Lycoming-powered 17-31A ceased. In 1996, the Continental IO-550 was made available as an option.

Since 2002, the company has been operated by a group of six Bellanca enthusiasts who bought the company from the state of Minnesota and established Alexandria Aircraft Co. LLC. They provide technical support and parts to owners and A&Ps in the field. They have sold one new aircraft, manufactured in 2005.

The aircraft fuselage is constructed from tubular steel overlaid with fabric, while the wings are fashioned from spruce with a plywood skin.

Bill Cox, an aviation journalist at Plane and Pilot Magazine commented regarding the flying qualities of Vikings that they "have long been famous for control response and harmony that seems almost psychic in nature", [2] and asserted, "Owners almost unanimously pronounce the Viking the best handling airplane they've ever flown." [2]

In 2022, the company moved to Sulphur, OK.

Variants

17-30 Viking 300
Four-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 224-kW (300-hp) Continental IO-520-K piston engine.
17-31 Viking 300
Four-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 224-kW (300-hp) Lycoming IO-540 piston engine.
17-31TC Viking 300
Four-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 224-kW (300-hp) Lycoming IO-540 piston engine, the aircraft is fitted with turbocharger.
17-30A Super Viking 300A
Four-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 224-kW (300-hp) Continental IO-520-K piston engine.
17-31A Super Viking 300A
Four-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 224-kW (300-hp) Lycoming IO-540-K1E5 piston engine.
17-31ATC Turbo Super Viking 300A
Four-seat light cabin aircraft, powered by a 224-kW (300-hp) Lycoming IO-540-K1E5 piston engine, the aircraft is fitted with two Rajay turbochargers.

Specifications (1976 17-30A Super Viking 300A)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976–77 [3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes

  1. Air Progress: 12. November 1978.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 1 2 Cox, Bill. "Bellanca Viking: Wood, Fabric & Genius". Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  3. Taylor 1976, p. 235

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna 182 Skylane</span> American light aircraft

The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engined light airplane built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats in the baggage area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piper PA-24 Comanche</span> American four- or six-seat monoplane built 1956–1972

The Piper PA-24 Comanche is an American single-engine, low-wing, all-metal monoplane of semimonocoque construction with tricycle retractable landing gear and four or six seats. The Comanche was designed and built by Piper Aircraft and first flew on May 24, 1956. Together with the PA-30 and PA-39 Twin Comanches, it made up the core of Piper's lineup until 1972, when the production lines for both aircraft were destroyed in the 1972 Lock Haven flood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna 206</span> American light aircraft

The Cessna 205, 206 and 207, known primarily as the Stationair, are a family of single-engined, general aviation aircraft with fixed landing gear, used in commercial air service as well as for personal use. The family was originally developed from the popular retractable-gear Cessna 210 and produced by the Cessna Aircraft Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beechcraft Musketeer</span> Family of light single engine aircraft

The Beechcraft Musketeer is a family of single-engined, low-wing, light aircraft that was produced by Beechcraft. The line includes the Model 19 Musketeer Sport, the Model 23 Musketeer, Custom and Sundowner, the Model 23-24 Musketeer Super III the retractable gear Model 24R Sierra and the military CT-134 Musketeer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piper PA-18 Super Cub</span> 1940s American light aircraft

The Piper PA-18 Super Cub is a two-seat, single-engine monoplane. Introduced in 1949 by Piper Aircraft, it was developed from the PA-11 Cub Special, and traces its lineage back through the J-3 Cub to the Taylor E-2 Cub of the 1930s. In close to 40 years of production, over 10,000 were built. Super Cubs are commonly found in roles such as bush flying, banner towing and glider towing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellanca Cruisair</span> American single-engined light aircraft

The Bellanca 14-7 Cruisair and its successors were a family of single-engined light aircraft manufactured in the United States from the mid-1930s onwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piper PA-31 Navajo</span> Family of twin engine aircraft built 1967–1984

The Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of twin-engined utility aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for small cargo and feeder airlines, and as a corporate aircraft. Production ran from 1967 to 1984. It was license-built in a number of Latin American countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lycoming O-540</span> Family of flat-six piston aircraft engines

The Lycoming O-540 is a family of air-cooled six-cylinder, horizontally opposed fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter engines of 541.5 cubic inches (8,874 cc) displacement, manufactured by Lycoming Engines. The engine is a six-cylinder version of the four-cylinder Lycoming O-360.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna 340</span> Twin piston engine pressurized general aviation airplane

The Cessna 340 is a twin piston engine pressurized business aircraft that was manufactured by Cessna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Champion Decathlon</span> Two-seat fixed conventional gear aerobatic light airplane

The American Champion 8KCAB Decathlon and Super Decathlon are two-seat fixed conventional gear light airplanes designed for flight training and personal use and capable of sustaining aerobatic stresses between +6g and −5g. The Decathlon entered production in the United States in 1970 as a more powerful and stronger complement to the American Champion Citabria line of aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave</span> Type of aircraft

The Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave is a 1970s American single-engined, low-wing, propeller-driven agricultural plane built by Piper Aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellanca 14-7</span> American light aircraft

The Bellanca 14-7 Junior and its successors were a family of light aircraft manufactured in the United States by Bellanca Aircraft Corporation shortly before World War II. They were followed post-war by the Bellanca 14-13 and its derivatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellanca 14-13</span> American light aircraft

The Bellanca 14-13 Cruisair Senior and its successors were a family of light aircraft that were manufactured in the United States by AviaBellanca Aircraft after World War II. They were a follow-up to the prewar Bellanca 14-7 and its derivatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancair Evolution</span> American homebuilt airplane

The Lancair Evolution is an American pressurized, low wing, four-place, single engine light aircraft, made from carbon fiber composite, developed by Lancair and supplied as an amateur-built kit by Evolution Aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piper Aerostar</span> Type of aircraft

The Piper Aerostar is an American twin-engined propeller-driven executive or light transport aircraft, designed by Ted R. Smith. It was originally built by Ted Smith Aircraft Company, but the design was acquired in 1978 by the Piper Aircraft Corporation, which continued production of the aircraft as the PA-60.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Procaer Picchio</span> Type of aircraft

The Procaer F.15 Picchio is an Italian-designed light utility aircraft built by Procaer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maule M-4</span> American light aircraft

The Maule M-4 is an American four-seat cabin monoplane designed by Belford Maule and built by the Maule Aircraft Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maule M-5</span> American light aircraft

The Maule M-5 is an American four-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by the Maule Aircraft Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellison-Mahon Gweduck</span> Amphibious aircraft

The Ellison-Mahon Gweduck or Geoduck is an American twin-engine amphibious aircraft, built from composites to resemble the Grumman Widgeon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brutsche Freedom 210 STOL</span> Type of aircraft

The Brutsche Freedom 210 STOL was a proposed American STOL homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Neal H. Brutsche and intended to be produced by Brutsche Aircraft Corporation of Salt Lake City, Utah, introduced in the mid-1990s. The aircraft was planned to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

References