The story
Aeronca built the 50 Chief in 1938 because buyers wanted more comfort, more range and better instruments. It grew out of the Model K line with a wider cabin, two seats side by side. Owners picked their 50 hp engine: Continental, Franklin or Lycoming, plus one lone Menasco-powered example. The 50C sold for $1,795 new.
On November 29 and 30, 1938, a 50C Chief made the first nonstop lightplane flight from Los Angeles to New York: 2,785 miles in 30 hours 47 minutes. Running costs came to about a penny a mile.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Aeronca 50 Chief?
High wing braced by V-struts, two seats side by side in a glazed cabin with a car-style door, tailwheel gear with faired triangular legs. A 50L shows bare cylinder heads on the nose, while a 50LA has a closed cowling. The near-identical 65 Chief is the usual lookalike; most Model Ks give themselves away with a two-cylinder engine.
What does a Aeronca 50 Chief sound like?
A soft four-cylinder buzz from just 50 hp.
How fast is the Aeronca 50 Chief?
Top speed is 87 kts (100 mph) (50C).
How many passengers does the Aeronca 50 Chief carry?
Up to 1. A typical layout is Two seats side by side.
How far can the Aeronca 50 Chief fly?
Range is about 217 nmi (50C).
How big is the Aeronca 50 Chief?
It is 21 ft 1 in long and 36 ft 0 in across the wings.
When did the Aeronca 50 Chief first fly?
Its first flight was in 1938.
How many Aeronca 50 Chiefs have been built?
374 (50C, 50F, 50L, 50LA, 50M) built.
How rare is a Aeronca 50 Chief in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first Aeronca 50 Chief catch is worth 25 points.
