07/20/2026. Remarks by
Johan Visschedijk: "The Billman Aviation Company was formed by Owen S. Billman at Mayfield, New York, USA. Billman designed and built on his own a light aircraft known as the B.11 Little Pink Cloud. Work on the B.11 began as a result of Billman's membership of the Experimental Aircraft Association, which was founded to foster the design and construction of aircraft by the home craftsman.
Registered N39B on June 3, 1955, the B.11 made its first flight on August 29, 1955. It was licensed in the "Experimental" category under U.S. Civil Air Regulation 1,74-3.
B.11C (
Bernhard Klein Collection)
On January 19, 1958 the original Lycoming engine was replaced by a Continental A-80-8 and the B.11 designation was changed to B.11C. The aircraft was cancelled from the register on December 31, 2011 as 'expired'.
Type: Single-seat Light monoplane.
Wings: Shoulder-wing braced monoplane. Wing section Clark Y. Single-spar spruce wood structure with fabric covering, except for aluminum alloy leading edge. V-streamlined bracing struts to lower longerons of fuselage. Frise type ailerons with aluminum structure and fabric covering. No flaps.
Fuselage: Welded steel tube structure, with aluminum fairing strips and fabric covering.
Tail unit: Braced monoplane type. Welded steel tube structure with fabric covering. Fin integral with fuselage.
Landing gear: Fixed tail-wheel type, with two Vees and two half axles hinged to bottom longerons. Elastic cord shock absorption. Hayes wheels and brakes.
Power plant: Initial a 55 hp Lycoming O-145-A2 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine driving wooden two-blade Sensenich propeller. January 19, 1958 replaced by a 80 hp Continental A-80-8 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine driving McCauley metal fixed-pitch airscrew. Fuel tank aft of engine firewall, capacity 12 gal (45 l). Oil capacity 1.25 gal (4.73 l).
Accommodation: Single seat under rearward sliding Plexiglas canopy. Entry by means of stirrup step on lower port longeron and walkway at root of port wing. Luggage compartment aft of seat."
