Bellanca YO-50

The Bellanca YO-50 was a United States prototype observation aircraft, built for the United States Army in 1940. Typical for aircraft of its type, it was a high-wing braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage and extensive cabin glazing. Its inverted "V" engine made it resemble its German equivalent, the Fieseler Storch.

YO-50
General information
Type	Army observation aircraft
Manufacturer	Bellanca
Number built	3
History
First flight	1940

Three examples were purchased for evaluation against the Stinson YO-49 and Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly. The Stinson won the production contract, and no further YO-50s were built.

Specifications

Data from Plane Facts: Bellanca's "Storch"

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: 35 ft 2 in (10.72 m)
• Wingspan: 55 ft 6 in (16.92 m)
• Gross weight: 3,887 lb (1,763 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Ranger V-770-1 air-cooled inverted V12 engine, 420 hp (310 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 126 mph (203 km/h, 109 kn)
• Cruise speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly
• Stinson L-1 Vigilant (YO-49)

References

• "Plane Facts: Bellanca's "Storch"". Air International. Vol. 21, no. 1. July 1981. p. 32. ISSN 0306-5634.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 150.
• aerofiles.com