Bellanca 49-42 YO-50

03/31/2010. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The Bellanca Aircraft Corporation at New Castle, Delaware, was one of over 11 competitors that responded to a 1938 USAAC design competition for a two-seat short-range light Army Co-operation aircraft. Stinson's Model 74, Bellanca's Model 49-42, and Ryan's Model were awarded a contract for each three trial aircraft, designated YO-49, YO-50 and YO-51 respectively. After evaluations the Stinson model went into series production.

The experimental YO-50 was a high-wing braced monoplane with fixed tail wheel landing gear and extensive cabin glazing. Fitted with full-span leading edge slots and slotted flaps, and powered by a 420 hp Ranger SGV-770B-3 twelve-cylinder air-cooled inverted V-engine, the YO-50 had STOL performance. The three YO-50s were produced under the s/n 42-741 to
42-743, and was first flown in 1940, while on June 1, 1941, the USAAC took delivery of the first."