The Bellanca 14-7 and its successors were a family of light aircraft manufactured in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 shortly before World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

.

Design and development

Bellanca had already established itself in the market for aircraft in the 6–8 seat size, but believed that it could also successfully sell smaller (3–4 seats) aircraft. The 14-7 was a modern, low-wing cantilever

Cantilever

A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...

 monoplane with a fuselage

Fuselage

The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...

 intended to contribute lift to the design. Although the prototype flew with fixed tailwheel undercarriage

Conventional landing gear

thumb|The [[Piper PA-18|Piper Super Cub]] is a popular taildragger aircraft.thumb|right|A [[Cessna 150]] converted to taildragger configuration by installation of an after-market modification kit....

, the 14-9 production version was the first US light aircraft to be mass-produced with retractable undercarriage; the main wheels rotated aft, up into wells in the wings.

Operational history

Development culminated in the 1941 14-12, at which point production ceased to allow Bellanca to work as a military subcontractor for the duration of the war when an attempt to market a militarized version as a trainer was unsuccessful. After the war, Bellanca returned to the design to create the Bellanca 14-13

Bellanca 14-13

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Davisson, Budd. "We Fly the Cardboard Constellation" Air Progress Vintage Buyer's Guide, 1989.* Mondey, David. The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Aircraft. Secaucus, NJ: Chartwell Books Inc, 1978. ISBN 0-89009-771-2.* Palmer, Trisha, ed....

 and its successors.

Variants

• Junior 14-7 - Prototype with fixed undercarriage and LeBlond 5E radial piston engine.

• • 14-7L - 14-7 with Lenape LM-5 engine.

14-9 - Main production version with retractable undercarriage and Ken-Royce 5F radial piston engine.

• • 14-9L - Fitted with a Lenape Brave engine.

• 14-10L - fitted with a 100 hp (75 kW) Lycoming
  Lycoming Engines
  Lycoming Engines is a U.S. aircraft engine company, known primarily for its general aviation engines. For most of its history Lycoming has been part of the AVCO group as AVCO Lycoming. In 1987 AVCO was purchased by Textron to become Textron Lycoming...
  
   engine.

• 14-12 - with Franklin 6AC
  Franklin Engine Company
  The Franklin Engine Company was a manufacturer of aircraft engines, formed as the H. H. Franklin Co. in 1902, located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Barely surviving bankruptcy in 1933, the company was purchased by a group of ex-employees and renamed Aircooled Motors in 1937...
  
   engine

• T14-14 - Militarized trainer version (single prototype only).

Specifications (14-9)