The Bellanca 28-90 Flash was an American military aircraft derived from an earlier air racer developed in the 1930s for export to Spain to take part in the Spanish Civil War. Although it never reached Spain, the order was diverted to China where the aircraft briefly saw service. Later, a new batch destined for Spain ended up in Mexico. In 1946, the surviving 19 airframes were acquired by the Charles E. Babb Company and shipped to Glendale, California. A final sale of the Bellancas still in packing crates was made to the U.S. Navy where the aircraft were distributed to U.S. Navy Technical Centers as training aids.
Bellanca 28-90, circa 1937-1940. Bellanca 28-90 “Flash”, Mexican air force. Bellanca 28-90 “Flash”, Mexican air force.
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Bellanca 28-90 “Flash”, Mexican air force. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. Throughout February 1938 seven Bellanca "Flash," which were bought by China's air force only shortly before, were destroyed on the ground in Japanese air raids. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash” (left), Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |
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Bellanca 28-90-B “Flash”, Chinese air force, 1938. |