The sole Bellanca K was built for a transatlantic flight to Rome. Cesare Sabelli's crew took off from Old Orchard Beach, Maine on 20 September 1928 but returned with a loose piston and ditched. The aircraft was repaired but subsequent users also experienced engine problems: a flight from Argentina to Spain didn't happen, a record endurance flight failed due to high oil consumption and finally Thor Solberg ditched NX4864 off Newfoundland on his way to Norway on 23 August 1932. The odd design of the aircraft, with lifting surfaces forming a sort of W-shaped lower wing, was supposedly very efficient and led to the Model P Airbus/Aircruiser. Photo from: Smithsonian Institution