The Bellanca Aircruiser is often described vaguely as the ultimate development of the Bellanca Airbus airliner. We believe the name Aircruiser refers to executive models of the Airbus, since this is the first Aircruiser, already built in 1930 or 1931 with a comfortable nine-seat interior. The generic designation Bellanca Model P changed to Model 66 in the mid-1930s. The US Army designation was C-27. This airframe was sold to Fred M King's Fidelity Investment Company of Wheeling, West Virginia. To Mexico in 1944. Photo from: Smithsonian Institution

The prototype of the Bellanca Airbus, the sole P-100 airframe. Stamped August 1930, this press photo came with the announcement that the plane was to take part in the 1930 Ford Reliability Tour, but it appears that it was replaced by a Bellanca Pacemaker, NC257M, at the last minute, likely because its Curtiss Conqueror engine was unreliable. Converted to a P-200 Airbus with a Wright Cyclone radial. To Mexico in July 1931 as XA-BHO.

Photo from the Smithsonian's Giuseppe M Bellanca Collection, presumably showing CF-ARW before delivery at Bellanca Field. This plane was used by the Eldorado mining company's uranium oxide mine at Port Radium, Northwest Territories, operated by Mackenzie Air Service of Edmonton. Nicknamed 'Flying W', the Aircruiser was used predominantly in Canada as a result of the 1934 US regulation banning single-engined airliners. Photo from: Smithsonian Institution

Used to support the Eldorado Mine until it closed in 1940. Ran out of fuel and force landed near Sioux Lookout, Ontario on January 24, 1947. Preserved at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. Photo from: Library and Archives Canada .

Seen in the restoration workshop adjoining the museum main hangar. A lot of parts are having to be re-manufactured. It is being restored in the original MacKenzie Air Service livery and will have 'Eldorado Radium Silver Express' subtitles. The museum closed its doors 22 October 2018. The historic TCA hangar and original terminal building were sadly demolished to make way for a new maintenance facility. The construction of a new museum building commenced 1 May 2020 at 2088 Wellington Avenue, which is near the main terminal building. Opening is planned for 2021.

This aircraft, commonly known as the "Flying W" was built in 1938. They worked on floats, skis and wheels in the Canadian North. It is now registered in the US as N2191K and is located in Oregon and is the only example still flying. Photo taken by John Caswell