Friends of Bellanca Airfield

Friends of Bellanca Airfield, Inc. (FOBA), is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Bellanca airfield and aircraft manufacturing in New Castle, Delaware.

Guiseppe Mario Bellanca (or GM) immigrated from Italy in 1912 and continued his passion for aircraft design here in the United States. His aircraft achieved numerous endurance and efficiency records, and his plane Columbia (shown at left) was Charles Lindbergh's first choice for a Trans-Atlantic crossing. Lindbergh was unable to secure the plane, but 2 weeks after that first Trans-Atlantic flight Columbia was flown non-stop from New York to Berlin (3,911 miles). In 1931, Bellanca's Miss Veedol was the first plane to fly non-stop across the Pacific from Japan to Washington State (4,500 miles, shown at right).

In 1928, Bellanca and Henry B. duPont built an airfield, aircraft plant, and service hangar in New Castle, Delaware. Located off Route 273 near the Delaware River, the plant produced approximately 3000 aircraft before closing in 1954.

Currently, FOBA volunteers are working to restore the 1935 Bellanca Airfield service hangar, now owned by the Trustees of the New Castle Commons. The group expect to complete studies regarding costs of restoration and adaptive uses soon, and are actively pursuing membership and funding drives. Interested individuals may contact FOBA by email at contact@friendsofbellanca.org for more information or membership data.

Download a membership application here: MEMBER APPLICATION

NEWS!

January 2005	Bellanca Airfield Hangar to share in "Save America's Treasures" Federal Grants
December 2004	Local Group to Restore Bellanca Field Hangar
October 2003	Historical Marker Dedicated at Bellanca Airfield Site

Friends of Bellanca Airfield, Inc.

PO Box 267

New Castle, DE 19720-0267

Send comments about this web site to: webmaster@friendsofbellanca.org