PlaneFox tracks 3 Bellanca Cruisair / Cruisemaster aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
The Bellanca Cruisair / Cruisemaster family is a series of four seat, retractable gear, low wing aircraft built by Bellanca in the United States after the Second World War. The best known Cruisair version, the Model 14-13, entered production in the late 1940s, while the more powerful Cruisemaster Model 14-19 followed in the early 1950s. Both are conventional gear aircraft with Bellanca’s distinctive triple tail and a mixed structure, including wood wings and fabric covering. For buyers, the type matters because it offers classic Bellanca efficiency, relatively high cruise speed for its installed power and a character distinct from contemporary Bonanzas, Comanches and Mooneys.
Typical cruise performance depends strongly on engine version and propeller fit. A Bellanca Cruisair with the 150 hp Franklin six cylinder engine is commonly operated around 125 to 135 knots. The Bellanca Cruisemaster, with higher power installations such as the 190 hp Lycoming O-435 or later larger engines on upgraded variants, is typically seen in the 140 to 155 knot range. Practical range is often planned in the roughly 500 to 650 nautical mile class, subject to fuel capacity, reserve and power setting. Useful load varies by aircraft, equipment and restoration history, but many examples fall around the 800 to 1,000 lb range. Published service ceilings for the series are generally in the mid teens.
The cabin seats four, with a front row and rear bench arrangement typical of its era. The cabin is not wide by modern standards, but the low wing layout, large side windows and sloped windshield give good forward and side visibility. Baggage capacity is modest and should be checked against the individual aircraft’s weight and balance data. Original panels were basic analog installations. Used examples may have anything from traditional round gauges and VHF radios to modern retrofit avionics such as Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, ADS-B transponders, engine monitors and digital audio panels. Factory integrated suites such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective are not part of this aircraft’s original design lineage.
Condition and documentation matter more than model year. Buyers should pay close attention to the wood wing structure, glue joints, fabric condition, steel tube fuselage corrosion, landing gear rigging, tailwheel system and engine supportability, especially on Franklin powered Cruisair aircraft. Complete logs, evidence of proper storage and specialist maintenance history are valuable. Common market distinctions include the 14-13 Cruisair, the 14-19 Cruisemaster and later higher powered Cruisemaster variants or conversions. In the used market, the Bellanca Cruisair / Cruisemaster is usually positioned as a knowledgeable owner’s classic: faster and more distinctive than many fixed gear contemporaries, but more maintenance sensitive than simpler metal trainers and tourers.