Curious how a developer will do a quirky some may say obscure North American Bush Gullwing Biplane and do it to well - not sure- splendid rendition and in XP12. Payware yes by Hangar 23. Amazing quality and modelling. This Aircruiser was a strange beast, good STOL good lifter but noisy and uncomfortable. Worked well in the Canadian North and Artic areas. XP12 and nicely priced to my mind as well. Curious what 

 

Interesting that the Developer-Builder Hangar 23 put this amount of work into an obscure piston single from the 1930s. It seems Bellanca only ever built 23 of these. So basically less than 2 dozen aircraft ever and forgotten by WW2. 

Originally called the AIRBUS so I guess it is entitled to be known as the 1st AIRBUS. 15 People and or 4000 lbs of freight at 155 mph. Good range. Could have been the first aircraft to have flown the Atlantic with Lindberg but they (Bellanca) had an altercation and Lindberg went with the Ryan instead.  Sufficiently useful and reliable for many to have survived as workhorses in the Canadian NorthWest until 1974 - forty years!. 

Think Hangar 23 have the aerodynamics of this one right. As the original pilots complained about it has poor rudder control and effectiveness - can be blanketed on short final touchdown at low speeds leaving you out of rudder!. Plenty of power and well it trundles along I guess. Big aeroplane for a single. Might have gone a long way but for change to regulations knocking it out the single engine passenger transport role.

The modelling and textures of this one are very nicely done and it all appears - accurate and authentic. All the doors work, the cabin looks suitably worn, nice instrument design and function and well all the controls are basic and simple. My only complaint the sound package they gave it is terrible sounds like buzz saw - swapped in a Beaver engine sound fmod and it is much more shall we say ambient to my ears. 

Can be difficult on the ground, needs a little ground room to manage and will swing badly on take off if your rough with power. Gets off and gets going at about 55 mph and climbs at about 100 mph with a good rate of 1200-1500 fpm. A float version as well would have been nice. They look very impressive on floats too!

Edited February 2, 20242 yr by coastaldriver