After receiving the aircraft, Fitzmaurice and his co-pilot, Eric "Jock" Bonar conducted a rapid series of preflight tests in New York before carrying out the first flight on 1 September 1934. The initial flight showed problems in aileron controls that necessitated a modification. Following a successful second test flight, the aircraft painted as "race 29" was crated and shipped by sea on the liner "SS Bremen" with a final destination at Bremerhaven, after the aircraft was unable to be offloaded at its first stop in Southampton, when the small ship that was to transport the Bellanca broke its towline.