Bellanca Pacemaker

s/n 601

m/d CH-300

c/n CV171

Canadian Vickers

601

Taken on strength as G-CYUX on 29 June 1931. Fitted with Short 51-S floats. Damaged at Buffalo Park Sub-station near Fitzgerald, Alberta on 17 August 1931. Skipped on landing, port float buckled and aircraft nosed over and started to sink. Passengers, including the Minister of Defence, rescued by Sub-station boat. Shipped to Winnipeg by rail for repairs. Based at Havre St. Pierre, Quebec in 1932, on floats, to deliver mail from steamers in Red Bay in the Straits of Belle Isle, to Havre St. Pierre. This was part of the delivery of air mail for the Imperial Conference held that year in Ottawa. Later used by 7 Photo Detachment. Still with this unit when it was renamed 7 General Purpose Detachment by 1933. Surveyed Gulf of St. Lawrence and eastern Canada that year. Transferred to Shediac, NB on 17 August 1933, for survey work over the Cobequid Mountains. Operated from Halifax, NS in September 1933, returned to Rockcliffe by October of that year. Operated by 7 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, late 1930s. Became RCAF 601 around this time. Detached to Osisko Lake, Ontario in September 1936, to complete missed portions of survey work done there earlier in the summer. Returned to Rockcliffe on 27 October 1936, detached to Lac-a-la-Tortue, Quebec on 31 October. Returned to Rockcliffe on 12 November via Montreal. Photographic detachments of this squadron passed to 8 (General Purpose) Squadron in February 1937, same base. Still with this unit in 1938. Struck off early in the war, exact date not known.

with notes from Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212

s/n 602

m/d CH-300

c/n CV172

Canadian Vickers

602

Taken on strength as G-CYUY on 29 June 1931. Used for autopilot trials in mid 1930s, using RCAF installed autopilot. Simple wing leveller, intended to improve quality of aerial photographs. Test flown by Tuddy Tudhope in this configuration on 19 January 1934. This included trial survey flights over Niagara peninsula in June 1934, based out of Hamilton, Ontario. Autopilot functioned well, but weight and and complexity prevented wider use. Became RCAF 602. Photo in "Canadian Aircraft since 1909". Used for survey crew training and equipment evaluation at Rockcliffe in 1936 and 1937, by the Geographical Section of the General Staff. Served with 8 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, late 1930s. Based at Camp Borden, Ontario in 1938. Became Instructional Airframe A 25 on 21 November 1939. Struck off strength on 9 June 1940.

with notes from Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212 | 1968 481

s/n 603

m/d CH-300

c/n CV173

Canadian Vickers

603

Taken on strength as G-CYUZ on 18 July 1931. Based at Havre St. Pierre, Quebec in 1932, on floats, to deliver mail from steamers in Red Bay in the Straits of Belle Isle, to Havre St. Pierre. This was part of the delivery of air mail for the Imperial Conference held that year in Ottawa. Became RCAF 603 by the mid 1930s. With 3 (General Purpose) Detachment at the beginning of 1935. Operated by 6 (General Purpose) Detachment of 7 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 1936 and 1937. Photographic detachments of this squadron passed to 8 (General Purpose) Squadron in February 1937, same base. Struck off strength by 9 June 1940.

with notes from Kestrel Publications


last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212

s/n 604

m/d CH-300

c/n CV174

Canadian Vickers

604

First Canadian made Pacemaker. Used welded fuselage from US Bellanca factory. Probably first flew 16 or 17 May 1931. Taken on strength as G-CYVA on 18 May 1931. Became RCAF 604 in the mid 1930s. With 3 (General Purpose) Unit in 1931. With 2 General Purpose Detachment at Winnipeg in 1936 and 1937. Served with 8 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, late 1930s. Struck off strength and sold on 5 July 1937, to civil register as CF-BFC, registered to Canadian Airways, same date. Destroyed in heavy landing on snow at Cumberland House, Saskatchewan on 11 December 1941.

with notes from Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212 | 1968 611

s/n 605

m/d CH-300

c/n CV175

Canadian Vickers

605

Taken on strength as G-CYVB on 22 May 1931. With 3 (General Purpose) Unit in 1931. Referred to as RCAF 605 in correspondence relating to a forced landing on 13 September 1935. Ran out of fuel while returning to Gods Lake after carrying government passengers to a survey camp. Aircraft rode out a gale overnight on the lake with only minor damage. Received fuel from Gods Lake Mine the next morning and completed flight. With 2 General Purpose Detachment at Winnipeg in 1935, 1936 and 1937. Became RCAF 605 around this time. Served with 8 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, late 1930s. Struck off strength and sold on 8 June 1937. To civil register as CF-BFD, to Canadian Airways Ltd. on same date. Destroyed in forced landing following engine failure near Stalwart, Saskatchewan on 4 January 1938.

with notes from Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212 | 1968 611

s/n 606

m/d CH-300

c/n CV176

Canadian Vickers

606

Taken on strength as G-CYVC on 1 June 1931. With 6 Photo Detachment in mid 1930s. Likely renumbered to RCAF 606 at this time. Held at Rockcliffe as reserve for General Purpose Detachments in 1936 and 1937. Served with 8 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, late 1930s. Struck off strength on 18 June 1940.

source: Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212

s/n 607

m/d CH-300 Pacemaker 30

c/n 188

Bellanca Aircraft Corp.

607

Imported from USA, taken on strength as G-CYVF on 20 May 1930. With 1 (General Purpose) Detachment, Ottawa, Ontario, in 1931. With 3 General Purpose Detachment at Winnipeg in 1936 and 1937. Renumberd to RCAF 607 in mid 1930s. Served with 8 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, late 1930s. Struck off strength and sold on 22 May 1937. To civil register as CF-BFB, registered to Canadian Airways Ltd. of Winnipeg on 28 May 1937 (also given as 22 May 1937). Crashed and destroyed at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on 29 November 1940. Hit a ditch while attempting forced landing following an engine failure.

with notes from Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212 | 1968 611

s/n 608

m/d CH-300 Pacemaker 30

c/n 189

Bellanca Aircraft Corp.

608

Imported from USA, taken on strength as G-CYVG on 5 June 1930. With 2 General Purpose Detachment at Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1931, when it supported Vedette G-CYWS as it surveyed NWT from Great Bear Lake to Hudson Bay. Later became RCAF 608. Served with 8 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, late 1930s. With 3 General Purpose Detachment at Winnipeg in 1936 and 1937. Struck off strength and sold on 28 May 1937. To civil register as CF-BFA, registered to Canadian Airways Limited of Winnipeg on same date. To Quebec Airways in 1941. Crashed and destroyed at Baie Comeau, Quebec on 23 December 1942. Drifted into bushes on cross-wind take off.

with notes from Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212 | 1968 611

s/n 609

m/d CH-300 Pacemaker 30

c/n 190

Bellanca Aircraft Corp.

609

Imported from USA, taken on strength as G-CYVH on 8 July 1930. Sustained Category C damage at Winnipeg, Manitoba on 26 June 1931. Served with 8 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, late 1930s. Loaned to 119 (Bomber) Squadron for navigation training at summer camp at Camp Borden, 1937. Renumbered to 609 by this time. Converted to instructional airframe A 22 on 1 November 1939. Struck off strength on 8 February 1944.

source: Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212 | 1968 481

s/n 610

m/d CH-300 Pacemaker 30

c/n 191

Bellanca Aircraft Corp.

610

Imported from USA, taken on strength as G-CYVI on 6 August 1930. Later renumbered RCAF 610. Operated by 7 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ont., mid 1930s. Photographic detachments of this squadron passed to 8 (General Purpose) Squadron in February 1937, same base. Held at Winnipeg as reserve for General Purpose Detachments in 1936 and 1937. Overhauled by MacDonald Brothers Aircraft at Winnipeg, summer of 1936. Loaned to 119 (Bomber) Squadron for navigation training at summer camp at Camp Borden, 1937. Still with 8 Squadron in 1939. Converted to instructional airframe A 35 on 11 March 1940. Struck off strength on 8 February 1944.

source: Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212 | 1968 481

s/n 611

m/d CH-300 Pacemaker 30

c/n 192

Bellanca Aircraft Corp.

611

Imported from USA, taken on strength as G-CYVJ on 1 August 1930. Fitted with Edo X-5280 floats. Used by 7 Photo Detachment in 1931 season. Still with this unit when it was renamed 7 General Purpose Detachment by 1933. Surveyed Gulf of St. Lawrence and eastern Canada that year. Transferred to Shediac, NB on 17 August 1933, for survey work over the Cobequid Mountains. Operated from Halifax, NS in September 1933, returned to Rockcliffe by October of that year. Unpopular aircraft, reported to be tail heavy. Tested by the Test Flight at Rockcliffe in winter of 1933/1934, but no cause ever found. Became RCAF 611 on 1 June 1935. Operated by 6 (General Purpose)
Detachment of 7 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 1936 and 1937. Served with 8 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, late 1930s. Struck off strength by 18 June 1940.

with notes from Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23

s/n 612

m/d CH-300 Pacemaker 30

c/n 193

Bellanca Aircraft Corp.

612

Imported from USA and taken on strength as G-CYVK on 26 July 1930. Used by 7 Photo Detachment in 1931 season. Later became RCAF 612. Fitted with electrically driven three-camera installation in cabin by 1935. Fitted with Edo Type X floats. With 7 General Purpose Detachment at Rockcliffe in 1936 and 1937. With 7 General Purpose Detachment in northern Ontario when it was forced down by bad weather at Lake Kamshigama on 1 September 1936. Had engine changed at Bark Lake, Ontario in late September of that year. Forced landing at Lake Kapikik on 6 October 1936 due to low engine oil pressure, while ferrying to Sioux Lookout. Forced landed in snow storm at Opazatika Lake on 19 October 1936. Carried on to Lake Osisko next day, sank at moorings in shallow water due to weight of snowfall that night, recovered with only slight damage. Returned to Rockcliffe on 27 October 1936, detached to Lac-a-la-Tortue, Quebec on 31 October. Returned to Rockcliffe on 11 November, non stop flight. Operated by 7 (General Purpose) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 1937 to 1939. Struck off early in the war, exact date not known.

source: Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 198 | 1968 212

s/n GCYWT

m/d CH-300

c/n 139

Bellanca Aircraft Corp.

G-CYWT

This was the first Pacemaker acquired by the RCAF when it was taken on strength on 16 October 1929. It performed well during a winter evaluation program, but crashed in the Gatineau River Valley while attempting to land in thick fog on 1 March 1930. Pilot Flight Lieutenant A. Carter, mechanic Aircraftman 1st Class Ordidge and F.P. Steers of the Geodetic Survey Branch were shaken but unhurt as the aircraft disintegrated after crashing in some trees. The accident had a positive aspect in endorsing Giuseppe Bellanca's contention that his fuselage construction was strong enough to survive and protect the crew if they were well strapped in. Struck off on 29 July 1930 after this Category A crash.

source: Kestrel Publications

last update: 2025-April-23 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 199