Built in 1940
The Bellanca 14-7 and its successors were a family of light aircraft manufactured in the United States shortly before World War II. Bellanca already had established itself in the market for aircraft in the 6-8 seat size, but now believed that it could also successfully sell smaller aircraft as well, of 3-4 seats. The 14-7 was a modern, low wing cantilever monoplane with a fuselage intended to contribute lift to the design. Although the prototype flew with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage, the 14-9 production version was the first US light aircraft to be mass-produced with retractable undercarriage.
Development culminated in the 14-12 of 1941, at which point production ceased to allow Bellanca to work as a military subcontractor for the duration of the war when an attempt to market a militarised version as a trainer was unsuccessful. After the war, Bellanca returned to the design to create the Bellanca 14-13 and its successors.