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Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection

Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Names:
Bellanca Aircraft Corporation  Search this
Wright Aeronautical Corporation  Search this
Chamberlin, Clarence  Search this
Extent:
248.5 Cubic feet (245 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Financial records
Newspaper clippings
Drawings
Photographic prints
Date:
1919-1959
Summary:
This collection consists of the archives of Giuseppe M. Bellanca and his company, including the following types of mediums: drawings, stress analysis tests, reports, photographs/negatives, documents, correspondence, patent information, newspaper clippings, business records, and financial statements.
Scope and Contents:
Series I: Mr. Bellanca's professional life

Here, the researcher will find documents regarding the day-to-day operations of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation. The material is generally divided into core documents of the corporation, correspondence, financial documents, subcontracting pursuits, patents, employee relations, and company history.

Series II: Technical Material

This material is separated into the following subseries: Miscellaneous Handwritten Notes and Sketches, Bellanca Aircraft Technical Data, Bellanca Aircraft Corporation Reports, Technical Research Files, Bellanca Aircraft Drawing Lists, Bellanca Aircraft Drawings, and Bellanca Aircraft Drawing Indexes. The Bellanca Collection is not a complete history of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation. Over the years, it appears that many items were loaned out by the Bellanca Family to researchers and not returned. Therefore, there are significant gaps in correspondence, formal, numbered reports, and other areas of the collection. For example, the earliest report in the Bellanca Collection is Report #28, the next report which appears is report #45.

The Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection contains over 10,000 drawings. (At the time of processing, not all drawings were entered into the Bellanca Drawings Database. These drawings will be entered as time allows.) The drawings vary in size from 8 x 11 inches to 36 x 185 inches. There are original pencil drawings, blueprints, and blueline drawings. Over 130 models of Bellanca aircraft are represented in the Collection. There are General Arrangement, or Three-View drawings for over 80 of these models. Bellanca drawings are not easy to decipher. Most of the drawings have data blocks which contain only a finite amount of information. Often the aircraft has been identified only by serial number. In some cases the model number of the aircraft is also the drawing number. Other times, the aircraft name would be given, but no model number, i.e. Skyrocket. Also, words were abbreviated and it was left up to the processing archivist to determine their probable meaning. Despite the explanation in the scope and content notes, the Bellanca Corporation was not consistent when assigning model numbers. Letters were sometimes assigned that reflected a United States War Department designation, i.e. the VSO and the VF. By using the Bellanca Drawing indexes, the processing archivist was able to supply model numbers for some of the drawings.

7136 Bellanca Aircraft Company Drawings have been added to the National Air and Space Museum Miscellaneous Drawings Database. As time allows, the remaining Bellanca Drawings will be added to this database. An Archives Staff member will assist researchers in retrieving these materials from the database finding aid.

The Bellanca drawings were stored for over thirty years in less-than-ideal conditions. Many of the drawings were drawn on poor-quality tracing paper, and have become extremely brittle and fragile. Therefore, many of the drawings in the Bellanca Collection may not be available to researchers.

During processing of the collection, the project archivist has gained some insight about how Mr. Bellanca chose the model designations for his aircraft. The earliest system of model designations was based upon letters of the alphabet. No model designations appear for any Bellanca design until his work for Maryland Pressed Steel in 1916. The CD, which he designed for that company, was his fourth aircraft design that was built, and the letter D is the fourth letter of the alphabet. This pattern continues through the Bellanca CF. During 1926, when Mr. Bellanca worked for the Wright Corporation, he already had in mind an improved version of the CF, which was designated the CG. This aircraft received the designation WB-1 from the Wright Corporation.

When Mr. Bellanca formed his own company in 1927, the letter pattern described above reasserted itself for a time with the introduction of the Bellanca CH. It was a common practice of manufacturers of the time to also include the engine horsepower as part of the model number, so the Bellanca CH actually received its Approved Type Certificate (ATC) as the CH-200. When the next model came out, it was the CH-300 with a 300 horsepower Wright Whirlwind engine. This system remained in place through the CH-400. Names were given to some Bellanca aircraft. It appears that the names were a marketing tool meant to appeal to the buying public. With this idea in mind, the CH-300 became the "Pacemaker", the CH-400 became the "Skyrocket", and the P 100 was christened the "Airbus". In the early 1930's, the Bellanca Corporation moved away from the alphabetical designations and moved to numerical designations. Later Bellanca aircraft model designations consist of a series of numbers, such as 31-50. The first number was the wing area, in this case, 310 square feet, divided by 10. The second number was the horsepower of the engine, 500, divided by 10. This resulted in a distinctive system of model designations, which lasted until Mr. Bellanca sold the company.

Series III: Mr. Bellanca's personal material.

In this series, the researcher will find personal correspondence among family members, from both Giuseppe and Dorothy Bellanca's families and personal, legal and financial records for Bellanca family. As the lines between Mr. Bellanca's personal and professional lives were sometimes blurred, a fine line of separation between the two was not always possible. For example, at one time or another, two of Mr. Bellanca's brothers, John and Frank, worked for the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation and Andrew Bellanca, Mr. Bellanca's nephew, was his lawyer throughout his life. Therefore, the processing archivist suggests that the researcher look in the professional series of documents as well as Mr. Bellanca's personal papers for a more complete representation of Mr. Bellanca's correspondence.

After processing was completed, publications which previously had been offered to the NASM Branch Library were returned to the collection. They are listed in an addendum at the end of this finding aid.

Series IV: Photographs.

The researcher will find photographs of Bellanca aircraft, including the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation's Master Photograph Files, photographs of the Bellanca factory and factory workers, and photographs of Giuseppe M. Bellanca, business associates, and family members.

Series V: Miscellaneous and Oversize Materials.

This series contains ephemera of the Bellanca Collection: Scrapbooks, Loose Newspaper Clippings, Artwork, Ephemera and Magazine Clippings.

The Bellanca Collection included 27 motion picture films. In May of 2000, this film was transferred to the NASM Film Archives. Researchers wishing to access this part of the collection should contact the NASM Film Archivist.
Arrangement:
Series I: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life

Series II: Technical Data

Series III: Personal Papers

Series IV: Photographs

Series V: Miscellaneous and Oversize Materials
Biographical / Historical:
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca was born in 1886 in Sciacca, Sicily. As a young man, he attended the Technical Institute in Milan, graduating with a teaching degree in mathematics in 1908. During his quest for a second mathematics and engineering degree, he became enamoured of aviation, and set out to design and build his own airplane. Bellanca's first aircraft design was a "pusher" aircraft, somewhat similar to the Wright Flyer. Lacking funds for such an endeavor, he joined with two partners, Enea Bossi, and Paolo Invernizzi. The union of the three produced the first flight of a totally Italian-designed and Italian-built aircraft in early December of 1909. The flight was short, but it was a start. Bellanca's second design was a tractor-type aircraft. Although the aircraft was successfully constructed, it was never flown due to insufficient funds for an engine.

At the urging of his brother Carlo, who was already established in Brooklyn, New York, Giuseppe Bellanca immigrated to America in 1911. Before the end of the year, he began construction of his third airplane design, a parasol monoplane. After construction was completed, he took the small craft to Mineola Field on Long Island, NY, and proceeded to teach himself to fly. He began by taxiing. He then, taxied faster, which gave way to short hops. The hops got longer, until, on May 19, 1912, there was not enough room to land straight ahead, and Bellanca had to complete a turn in order land safely. Having successfully taught himself to fly, Bellanca then set about teaching others to fly, and from 1912 to 1916, he operated the Bellanca Flying School. One of his students was a young Fiorello La Guardia, the future mayor of New York City. In return for flying lessons, La Guardia taught Bellanca how to drive a car.

In 1917 the Maryland Pressed Steel Company of Hagerstown, MD hired Bellanca as a consulting engineer. While there, he designed two trainer biplanes, the CD, and an improved version, the CE. With the conclusion of WWI, Maryland Pressed Steel's contracts were cancelled and the company entered into receivership. Thus, the CE never went into production.

In 1921, a group of investors lured Bellanca westward to Omaha, NE, in hopes of establishing that town as a center for aircraft manufacture. Before the aircraft could be built, the company went bankrupt, but construction of the aircraft continued under the financial backing of a local motorcycle dealer named Victor Roos. The resultant aircraft, the Bellanca CF, was called by Janes's All the World's Aircraft "the first up-to-date transport aeroplane that was designed, built, and flown with success in the United States." Among the local people helping to build the aircraft was the daughter of Bellanca's landlord, Dorothy Brown. Giuseppe and she were married on November 18, 1922.

Despite its advanced design, the Bellanca CF could not compete with the economics of the time. In the days just after World War I, a surplus Curtiss Jenny could be purchased for as little as $250.00. A Bellanca CF, with a price tag of $5000.00, was just too expensive and the aircraft never went into production. After the disappointment of the CF, Bellanca designed wings for the Post Office Department's DH-4's. His new wings were a tremendous improvement over the original design, but only a few aircraft were so modified.

In 1925, Bellanca went to work for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation of Paterson, NJ. His assignment there was to develop an aircraft around the new Wright Whirlwind engine. He already had a design in mind, which was an improved version of the CF, called the CG. This design evolved into the Wright-Bellanca WB-1.

The WB-1 enjoyed a short, but successful flying career. The aircraft had already won one race and efficiency contest before an untimely accident destroyed the craft during preparation for an attempt to break the world's non-refueled endurance record. Fortunately, at the time of the crash, Bellanca was already working on an improved version, of the WB-1 designated the WB-2.

During 1926, the WB-2 won two efficiency trophies at the National Air Races in Philadelphia. Wright considered putting the aircraft into production, but decided against it to avoid alienating other aircraft companies that were potential customers for their engines. Disappointed by Wright's decision, Bellanca left the company and joined with a young businessman named Charles Levine to form the Columbia Aircraft Company. Wright sold the WB-2 and all drawings and production rights to the new company. The WB-2 went on to a long and fruitful flying career starting with establishing a new world's non-refueled endurance record of 51 hours, 11 minutes, and 59 seconds in April of 1927.

In the latter half of 1926, Charles Lindbergh wanted to buy the WB-2, now named the 'Columbia', for his proposed flight from New York to Paris. He was rebuffed by Levine who also had designs on the flight and the $25,000 prize money. Lindbergh then went to Ryan for his specially designed NYP. Meanwhile Levine, in choosing the crew, managed to promise two seats to three people. So while the Columbia was grounded by a court order brought by the third party, Lindbergh took off on his successful flight to Paris.

Eventually, the 'Columbia' was cleared of litigation and took off on its successful transatlantic flight on June 4, 1927. In the cockpit were Clarence Chamberlin, one of the pilots of the endurance record and Charles Levine, who became the first transatlantic passenger. The plan was to fly all the way to Berlin, and Chamberlin had vowed to fly until they ran out of fuel. Forty-three hours later, they landed in Eisleben, Germany, the first of two successful Atlantic crossings for Bellanca's most famous aircraft.

Disappointed because the 'Columbia' was not the first aircraft to accomplish the New York to Paris flight, Bellanca severed all relations with Levine, and started his own company, the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of America, and rented facilities on Staten Island, NY. The new Bellanca model was designated the CH, and was basically a commercial version of the WB-2. The new company also had two other models that were built for special orders, the Bellanca Model J and the Model K.

It was not long before Bellanca caught the attention of the Du Pont family of Delaware. They wanted to start aircraft manufacturing in Delaware, and in late 1927, an agreement was made with Bellanca to locate his factory outside of Wilmington. The site was large enough for a first-class airfield, with a seaplane ramp on the nearby Delaware River.

This was a busy time in Bellanca's life. Along with all that was happening in his professional life, he and Dorothy celebrated the birth of their son August T. Bellanca in March of 1927.

With the exception of a few years immediately before and during the early stages of WWII, Bellanca was President and Chairman of the Board from the corporation's inception on the last day of 1927 until he sold the company to L. Albert and Sons in 1954. After his departure from the company, Giuseppe and his son, August, formed the Bellanca Development Company with the purpose of building a new aircraft. It would have increased performance due to the use of lighter materials for its structure. Work on this aircraft was progressing when Giuseppe Bellanca succumbed to leukemia and died on December 26, 1960. After his father's death, August continued the project, and under his guidance, the aircraft first flew in 1973.

In 1993, August Bellanca donated his father's personal and professional papers to the National Air and Space Museum Archives. Prior to that time, they were kept in the Bellanca home near Galena, MD, and administered by Dorothy and August Bellanca.

1886 -- Born in Sciacca, Sicily

1909 -- Built first airplane. It completed the first flight of an Italian-designed, Italian-built, aircraft on December 8, 1909.

1911 -- Immigrated to America, settled in Brooklyn, NY.

1912 -- Completed construction of parasol monoplane. Successfully learned to fly this aircraft at Mineola, Long Island, NY.

1912 - 1916 -- Taught others to fly the parasol monoplane, including Fiorello LaGuardia.

1917 - 1920 -- Employed as a consulting engineer for Maryland Pressed Steel Company of Hagerstown, MD. While there, Bellanca designed and built the Bellanca CD and CE tractor biplanes.

1921 - 1922 -- Moved to Omaha, NE, and with Victor Roos, formed the Roos-Bellanca Aircraft Company. Bellanca designed and built the Bellanca CF. Married Dorothy Brown on November 18, 1922, in Omaha, NE.

1923 -- Moved back to New York, and designed and built new sets of wings for the Post Office Department's DH-4 mailplanes

1925 -- Employed by the Wright Aeronautical Corporation of Paterson, NJ, designing an aircraft around their new "Whirlwind" engine. The Wright-Bellanca 1, or WB-1, was the result, and was first flown in the latter part of that year.

1926 -- First flight of the WB-2.

1927 -- Bellanca started the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of America, on Staten Island, NY. Bellanca established the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of New Castle, DE. Wright decided not to enter into quantity production of the WB-2. Bellanca entered into a partnership with Charles A. Levine, and together, they formed the Columbia Aircraft Corporation. From Tuesday, April 12 to Thursday, April 14, Clarence Chamberlin and Bert Acosta set a new world's non-refueled endurance record in the WB-2, which was shortly thereafter, renamed the "Columbia". On June 4th, the Columbia set off across the Atlantic, and landed in Eisleben, Germany.

1941 - 1943 -- Head of the aviation department at Higgins Industries, Inc., in New Orleans, designing large cargo aircraft for troop movement during the war.

1954 -- Formed the Bellanca Development Company, to conduct research in lightweight aircraft construction materials.

1960 -- Died of leukemia in New York, December 26.
Provenance:
Mr. and Mrs. August Bellanca, Gift, 1993, NASM.1993.0055
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Bellanca WB-2 "Miss Columbia"  Search this
Transatlantic flights  Search this
Genre/Form:
Correspondence
Financial records
Newspaper clippings
Drawings
Photographic prints
Citation:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg271dc0842-f969-4959-847e-2fe8d6d09920
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-1993-0055
Online Media:

"How it feels to explode in the air at four hundred twenty miles per hour. Information on accident to Delgado Maid at the 1936 national air races." Source: From Motor racing,

Collection Creator:
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio)  Search this
Container:
Box D590, Folder D52.1 Delgado / 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
Mar. 1937.
Scope and Contents:
Airplanes - Delgado Maid; Davis, Arthur
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
See more items in:
Wright Field Technical Documents Library
Wright Field Technical Documents Library / D52.1 - Airplanes (arranged alphabetically) / D / Delgado
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2ecf9a14c-b522-4b21-a8f5-e17966065267
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-0428-ref2179

"Photograph of the F6C-6, navy entrant in the national air races held at Chicago,." Source:

Collection Creator:
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio)  Search this
Container:
Box D614, Folder D52.1 F6C-6 / 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
Aug. 23 to Sep. 1, 1930.
Scope and Contents:
Airplanes - F6C-6
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
See more items in:
Wright Field Technical Documents Library
Wright Field Technical Documents Library / D52.1 - Airplanes (arranged alphabetically) / F / F6C
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2d1a90827-a49d-49c0-ae31-a98a0fe5719c
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-0428-ref2860

"News photos (rep) and caption re various Lockheed airplanes planning to compete in the National air Races." Source: missing

Collection Creator:
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio)  Search this
Container:
Box D633, Folder D52.1 Lockheed / 572
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
9 Jan 1931
Scope and Contents:
Airplanes - Lockheed ; [Airplanes - Lockheed Orion]; [Airplanes - Lockheed Altair]; [Airplanes - Lockheed Vega]; [Airplanes - Continental Airways]; [Engines - Wasp]; [Engines - Cyclone]; [Bernarr K MacFadden]; [Amelia Earhart]; [J. Goodwin Hall];
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
See more items in:
Wright Field Technical Documents Library
Wright Field Technical Documents Library / D52.1 - Airplanes (arranged alphabetically) / L / Lockheed
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg23a88d953-762f-41da-810f-b63b224fd3ff
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-0428-ref3687

Tail Skid, Curtiss R3C-1

Materials:
Wood, metal
Dimensions:
skid is 34 7/8” long from wooden nose to the extreme tip of the steel “shoe”
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft Parts
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1925
Credit Line:
Transferred from the U.S. War Department
Inventory Number:
A19280002003
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv959fbdd90-a8c3-4b65-b6e7-ed2946315cab
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19280002003

Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974

Creator:
Jacques Seligmann & Co.  Search this
Subject:
Hauke, Cesar M. de (Cesar Mange)  Search this
Glaenzer, Eugene  Search this
Haardt, Georges  Search this
Seligman, Germain  Search this
Seligmann, Arnold  Search this
Parker, Theresa D.  Search this
Waegen, Rolf Hans  Search this
Trevor, Clyfford  Search this
Seligmann, René  Search this
Seligmann, Jacques  Search this
De Hauke & Co., Inc.  Search this
Jacques Seligmann & Co  Search this
Eugene Glaenzer & Co.  Search this
Germain Seligmann & Co.  Search this
Gersel  Search this
Type:
Gallery records
Citation:
Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Mackay, Clarence Hungerford, 1874-1938 -- Art collections  Search this
Schiff, Mortimer L. -- Art collections  Search this
Arenberg, duc d' -- Art collections  Search this
Liechtenstein, House of -- Art collections  Search this
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- France -- Paris  Search this
Art -- Collectors and collecting  Search this
World War, 1939-1945 -- Art and the war  Search this
La Fresnaye, Roger de, 1885-1925  Search this
Art, Renaissance  Search this
Decorative arts  Search this
Art treasures in war  Search this
Art, European  Search this
Theme:
Art Gallery Records  Search this
Art Market  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)9936
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212486
AAA_collcode_jacqself
Theme:
Art Gallery Records
Art Market
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_212486
1 Page(s) matching your search term, top most relevant are shown: View entire project in transcription center
  • View Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974 digital asset number 1
Online Media:

National Air Races, 1939

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Container:
Box 16, Folder 7
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life / 1.2: Correspondence / 1.2.2: Correspondence Filed Alphabetically by Company or Subject
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg224fa12fc-7e3a-4215-bb38-56fec399636d
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref308

National Air Race Museum & Hall of Fame (Sparks, NV)

Collection Creator:
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Museums, Exhibits, Memorials, Planetariums, Science Centers
National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Museums, Exhibits, Memorials, Planetariums, Science Centers / Series U: Museums, Exhibits, Memorials, Planetariums, Science Centers, by Name
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2c8bea85b-0c2a-4839-8542-2abc0d8a6ca6
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-u-ref1400

National Air Race Museum & Hall of Fame (Sparks, NV) [Documents]

Collection Creator:
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division.  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.1183.U, File UN-253000-01
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Museums, Exhibits, Memorials, Planetariums, Science Centers
National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files: Museums, Exhibits, Memorials, Planetariums, Science Centers / Series U: Museums, Exhibits, Memorials, Planetariums, Science Centers, by Name / National Air Race Museum & Hall of Fame (Sparks, NV)
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b21ec360-9855-4dad-a3a8-0742b0ffaa3f
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1183-u-ref1401

North American P-51C, "Excalibur III"

Manufacturer:
North American Aircraft Company  Search this
Materials:
Overall: Aluminum
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 11.3 m (37 ft)
Length: 9.8 m (32 ft 3 in)
Height: 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
Weight, empty: 4,445 kg (9,800 lb)
Weight, gross: 5,052 kg (11,800 lb)
Top speed: 700 km/h (435 mph)
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1944
Credit Line:
Gift of Pan American World Airways
Inventory Number:
A19530088000
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station:
Aerobatic Flight
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv98016438a-753a-42be-83d3-de39bda7bddc
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19530088000
Online Media:

Warner Scarab 110, Radial 7 Engine

Designer:
W. O. Warner  Search this
Manufacturer:
Warner Aircraft Corporation  Search this
Dimensions:
Diameter 90.2 cm (35.5 in.), Length 73.7 cm (29 in.) (without starter) (1928 series)
Type:
PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1928
Credit Line:
Gift of Charles Woerner
Inventory Number:
A19550077000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Hangar:
Boeing Aviation Hangar
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv98363be48-48a2-4b88-9afd-97fe1d321cd6
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19550077000
Online Media:

Wittman Special 20 "Buster"

Manufacturer:
Steve Wittman  Search this
Materials:
Wood, metal, plastic
Dimensions:
3-D: 530.9 × 121.9cm, 224.5kg, 4.597m (17 ft. 5 in. × 4 ft., 495lb., 15 ft. 1 in.)
Wingspan: 4.59 m (15 ft. 1 in.)
Length: 5.31 m (17 ft. 5 in.)
Height: 1.22 m (4 ft.)
Weight: 227 kg (500 lb.) empty
Engine: Continental 85 hp
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1947
Credit Line:
Gift of Winnebago County Airport
Inventory Number:
A19550104000
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9cee4f994-7ff5-4906-9e73-d40a5fb0deba
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19550104000

1903 Wright Flyer

Materials:
Airframe: Wood
Fabric Covering: Muslin
Engine Crankcase: Aluminum
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)
Length: 6.4 m (21 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 4 in)
Weight: Empty, 274 kg (605 lb)
Gross, 341 kg (750 lb)
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1903
Credit Line:
The Estate of Orville Wright
Inventory Number:
A19610048000
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition:
Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9aa91e7c2-85b2-4904-aff0-d990694b6f1d
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19610048000

Waterman Aerobile

Manufacturer:
Waterman Arrowplane Co.  Search this
Materials:
Metal and steel tubing with fabric cover
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 11.5 m (38 ft.)
Height: 2.6 m (8 ft. 8 in.)
Length: 6.3 m (20 ft. 8 in.)
Weight: 952.5 kg (2,100 lbs.)
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1957
Credit Line:
Gift of Waldo Waterman
Inventory Number:
A19610156000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station:
Sport Aviation
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv96d536a84-71c4-4e3d-908c-3ec7f66a1ac6
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19610156000
Online Media:

Bellanca C.F.

Manufacturer:
Bellanca Aircraft Co.  Search this
Materials:
Wood frame with fabric and wood panels
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 12.2 m (40 ft)
Length: 7.26 m (23 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Weight, empty: 432 kg (950 lb)
Weight, gross: 908 kg (1,990 lb)
Top Speed: 176 km/h (110mph)
Engine: Anzani, 110 hp
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1922
Credit Line:
Gift of August T. Bellanca
Inventory Number:
A19620015000
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station:
General Aviation
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv91ca36539-ccd2-432a-a5c6-880b36df5df2
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19620015000
Online Media:

Curtiss 1A "Gulfhawk"

Manufacturer:
Curtiss Airplane Co.  Search this
Materials:
Fuselage: steel tube with fabric cover
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 9.9 m (31 ft 6 in)
Length: 6.7 m (22 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft 11 in)
Weight, empty: 978 kg (2,161 lb)
Weight, gross: 1,342 kg (2,963 lb)
Top speed: 249 km/h (155 mph)
Engine: Pratt & Whitney Wasp R-1340, 600 hp
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
ca. 1929
Credit Line:
Gift of Dolphin D. Overton
Inventory Number:
A19700171000
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station:
General Aviation
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9fee9d5d5-76be-41b9-bc2a-9cc1edff02dd
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19700171000
Online Media:

Turner RT-14 Meteor

Manufacturer:
Lawrence W. Brown Aircraft Co. and Matty Laird  Search this
Designer:
Roscoe Turner  Search this
Dimensions:
Wingspan 7.71 m (25 ft. 3.5 in.)
Length 7.11 m (23 ft. 4 in.)
Height 3.05 m (10 ft.)
Weight 1,427 kg (3,300 lb.) empty
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1930
Credit Line:
Donated by the Estate of Roscoe Turner
Inventory Number:
A19730886000
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition:
Nation of Speed
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9ca53a788-1445-47cd-ac99-1fade0572f7a
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19730886000
Online Media:

Monocoupe 110 Special

Manufacturer:
Monocoupe Airplane Co.  Search this
Materials:
Fuselage: steel tube with fabric cover
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6.9 m (23 ft.)
Length: 6.2 m (20 ft. 4 in.)
Height: 2.1 m (6 ft. 11 in.)
Weight, empty: 449 kg (991 lbs.)
Weight, gross: 730 kg (1,611 lbs.)
Top speed: 313 km/h (195 mph)
Engine: Warner 185, 200 hp
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1941
Credit Line:
Gift of John J. McCulloch
Inventory Number:
A19810858000
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station:
General Aviation
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9e47ffb56-7443-4efc-b337-0f53ababc525
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19810858000
Online Media:

Farman Sport

Manufacturer:
Henri Farman  Search this
Maurice Farman  Search this
Materials:
Wood and fabric monoplane
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7 m (23 ft 3 in)
Length: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in)
Weight, empty: 294 kg (649 lb)
Weight, gross: 462 kg (1,202 lb)
Top Speed: 140 km/h (87 mph)
Engine: Anzani 50 hp
Type:
CRAFT-Aircraft
Country of Origin:
France
Date:
1924
Credit Line:
Gift of Ken Hyde
Inventory Number:
A19820416000
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station:
Pre-1920 Aviation
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9afed4fff-b38a-4c89-b996-f3eb9a397881
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19820416000
Online Media:

Major Mario de Bernardi Photographs

Extent:
0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder, 7 photographs, 2 documents)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
bulk 1926-1955
2003
Summary:
This collection consists of six black and white photographs of renowned Italian aviator Mario de Bernardi and one color photograph of his daughter Fiorenza de Bernardi, the first Italian woman commercial airline pilot. The collection also includes an informational document for each of the de Bernardis.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of six black and white digital print photographs of Mario de Bernardi along with an information page on him. The collection also includes one color digital print photograph and a photocopy of an article on his daughter, Fiorenza de Bernardi, the first Italian woman commercial airline pilot and an advocate for women's aviation opportunities.
Arrangement:
Materials are grouped by type; photographs are presented online in chronological order.
Biographical / Historical:
Mario de Bernardi, a renowned Italian aviator (1893-1959), received his wings in 1913 when serving with the Italian Army Service in the Baracca Squadron. De Bernardi was an experimental test pilot, aerobatic pilot, and racer, who won the Coupe d'Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider (Jacques Schneider Maritime Aviation Cup) at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in 1926 and the High Acrobatics Competition at the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1931. In 1940 he made test flights of the first Italian jet aircraft, the Caproni-Campini CC.2 (also known as the Camproni Campini N.1). He continued to fly until 1959 when he died following a heart attack suffered during an aerobatic flight.
Provenance:
Fiorenza de Bernardi, gift, 2004; via Smithsonian Institution Libraries, transfer, 2018; NASM.2018.0020.0005
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this
Aeronautics, Military  Search this
Aeronautics -- Competitions  Search this
Airplanes  Search this
Air pilots  Search this
Women air pilots  Search this
Citation:
Major Mario de Bernardi Photographs, Acc. NASM.2018.0020.0005, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.2018.0020.0005
See more items in:
Major Mario de Bernardi Photographs
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2eb1d7ab3-116e-44af-980c-e8190b0d38c0
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-2018-0020-0005
Online Media:

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