"AOPA Pilot" Magazine January 1993

Bellanca Super Viking

Thumbing a Nose at Convention

by, Mark R. Twombley

Photography by Mike Fizer

The following excerpts are from the 'cover story' article written by Twombley... Tom


"If nothing else, the Bellanca Super Viking provokes reaction. During several weeks spent with a brand-spanking-new Super Viking, I heard people describe it as everything from an anachronism to just about the best thing flying with four seats. The polarity of opinions is just one more interesting characteristic of this unique airplane. No way is the Super Viking your run-of-the-mill high performance single. What other new-production airplane would dare fly towards the twenty-first century as a 285-horsepower (300 hp for takeoff) tube-and-fabric retractable? How has it even survived this long? The answers lie in a maverick personality and, most importantly, superb flying qualities. The Super Viking appeals to the pilot who isn't put off by the fabric covered fuselage and tail, and who has an artisan's appreciation of the craftsmanship and beauty of the wooden wing structure."

"Pilots will argue the merits and demerits of wood wing and fabric skin, but a discouraging word can't be said about the Super Viking's handling qualities. The first time you roll into a turn, you realize this airplane is something special. Aileron deflection takes just the right amount of effort, and the response is instant, crisp, and smooth. Adverse yaw is minimal because of the directional stability of the oversize vertical fin. The rudder is small and the forces somewhat stiff, but it doesn't take much to keep the ball centered while climbing or maneuvering."

"If you've flown a Bonanza and covet its agility, beg a ride in a Super Viking. It has aerobatic-caliber lateral control feel and response, although it's a Normal-category airplane---no loops, rolls, or other funny stuff allowed."

"The Super Viking is also super stable in cruise, which is surprising given its maneuverability. On one flight, I leveled at 6,500 feet, trimmed as the airspeed settled, then released the controls. For the next 45 minutes, all I had to do to maintain straight and-level flight and stay on course was to dab at the rudder pedals."

"Why does the Super Viking fly so well? One interesting theory is that the basic design pre-dates modern times (the beginning of which coincided with the creation of the Federal Aviation Administration and its "parts," as in FAR Part 23), and back then, flying qualities were more important to the success of an airplane than they are today. Of course, it could also be true that Guiseppe M. Bellanca simply spun some magic when he put his talented design pen to paper."

"Most buyers of new Super Vikings are previous Bellanca owners. "Fanatics" is a word that's often used. After living with a Super Viking for several weeks, one can begin to see why."

"Several AOPA staff members initially looked askance at N26795, probably because of what they perceived as the incongruity of a wood wing and fabric skin on a new-production, high-performance single. Some were put off by the bold yellow paint and crinkly interior. The few who had experience in Bellancas couldn't wait to go flying."

"Everyone came away a fan, won over by performance, handling, and the Super Viking's plucky, odd-man-out personality. You flew it, you liked it."

"Down low, the power has to be used conservatively to avoid blowing past the 190-mph Vno and into the yellow caution range. (The airspeed indicator's primary markings are in miles per hour.) At higher cruise altitudes, expect true airspeeds approaching 205 mph or nearly 180 knots. Even at 14,500 feet, the Super Viking clocked in at 192 mph true, 174 knots, on just 12 gallons per hour. With all the tanks full (84 gallons usable), count on just over four hours' endurance, with an hour's reserve."

"The Super Viking can be difficult to manage on descents and in the terminal area because there is little to aid in slowing down. Maximum gear extension speed is 160 mph, some 20 to 30 mph below typical cruise speeds. Flaps can't be deployed above 120 mph."

"Controlling moisture contamination and fungi in the wing is the key to maintaining the Super Viking. It's no more difficult than controlling corrosion on an aluminum airplane. A Bellanca service letter, 87A, explains that humidity alone will not lead to significant decay but could cause mold to form. Long term exposure to rain, condensation, and contact with wet ground, however, can lead to trouble, according to the service letter. Then again, long term exposure of aluminum to those conditions is equally as bad. Like any airplane, a Super Viking must be given reasonable care and consideration---and needs to be flown-- if it is to last and perform to expectations."

"A Super Viking owner is best served by a maintenance shop familiar with wood wings, but that's not always easy to come by. There are at least five shops scattered around the country that have long experience servicing Bellancas: CAP Aviation in Reading, Pennsylvania; Miller Flying Service in Plainview, Texas; Screaming Eagle Aviation in Santa Paula, California; Weber's Aero Repair in Alexandria, Minnesota, and the factory itself."


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