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Ingenium Canada Aviation and Space Museum

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Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker

Hours and Location

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Monday
Address
11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, ON
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Browse all Visitor Information for Canada Aviation and Space Museum
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Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker

Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker aircraft

Highlights:

  • A six-seater utility aircraft designed in the U.S. and built by Bellanca Aircraft Corporation in the late 1920s and early 1930s
  • Used primarily as a small transport and bush plane: known for its reliability and load-carrying capacity
  • Six Bellanca CH-300s built by Canadian Vickers Ltd in Montreal were purchased by the RCAF for aerial photography and for use as bush planes
  • First airplane to use an autopilot in Canada was a Canadian Vickers-made CH-300
  • First flight was in 1925 (Bellanca WB-1)

Image Gallery:

Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker flying over a lake

CASM-24545

Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker next to a kayak and a dog sled

CASM-12532

History:

Bellanca Pacemakers were renowned for their reliability and weight-lifting attributes, which contributed to their successful operation in the Canadian bush. Canadian-operated Bellancas were initially imported from the United States, but later six were built by Canadian Vickers in Montreal and delivered to the RCAF, which used them mainly for aerial photography.

Many long-distance records were set by Bellanca monoplanes. Charles Lindbergh commissioned the Spirit of St. Louis only when he failed to acquire the second prototype Bellanca WB-2. This Bellanca, named Columbia, flew from New York to Germany only two weeks after Lindbergh’s famous flight. In 1931, a diesel-powered Bellanca set an unrefuelled endurance record of 84 hours and 33 minutes. A distinguishing feature of all Bellancas was the airfoil shape of the wing struts , which contributed additional lift and stability.

Current Location:

Bush flying Exhibition, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Provenance:

Purchase

The Museum's aircraft is one of only two surviving Bellanca CH-300/CH-300 Pacemakers in the world. Built in 1929 by Bellanca Aircraft Corporation, it was sold to El Paso Air Service in Texas. Its Wright engine was replaced with a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Wasp Jr. engine in 1945. This CH-300 operated commercially in Texas, Mexico and Alaska almost without interruption between 1929 and 1964. It was still airworthy when the Museum purchased it in 1964, after twenty-eight years of bush flying in Alaska.

Technical Information:

Wing Span 14.1 m (46 ft 4 in)
Length 8.5 m (27 ft 9 in)
Height 2.5 m (8 ft 4 in)
Weight, Empty 1,032 kg (2,275 lb)
Weight, Gross 1,847 kg (4,072 lb)
Cruising Speed 177 km/h (110 mph)
Max Speed 225 km/h (140 mph)
Rate of Climb 355 m (1,100 ft) /min
Service Ceiling 5,490 m (18,000 ft)
Range 1,368 km (850 mi)
Power Plant one Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Jr., 450 hp, 9-cylinder radial engine

Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker

AVIATION
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Artifact No.
1967.0642
Manufacturer
Bellanca Aircraft Corporation
Manufacturer Location
United States
Manufacture Date
1929
Acquisition Date
1964
Registration Number
CF-ATN
  • View all the collection highlights at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
  • View other collection highlights related to Aviation

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About Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just five kilometers from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context – from its beginnings in 1909 to today.
Read more about the museum

Contact Us

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa ON K1K 2X5
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
contact@IngeniumCanada.org
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  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Flights and Simulations
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
    • Birthday Parties
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • The Legacy Series
    • Let's Talk Energy