The Bally Bomber B-17 is a one third scale, single seat, homebuilt aircraft, intended as a replica of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.in 1999 aviation enthusiast and Vietnam veteran Jack Bally decided to build a 1:3 scale replica of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.It took him 18 yrs and 40,000 hours to build this giant experimental B-17 airplane.
source/image: Glenn Pfortmiller
The Bally Bomber B-17 is an original design by Jack Bally, EAA 348338.The aircraft is a four-engined, retractable conventional landing gear equipped, low wing monoplane.
source/image: Glenn Pfortmiller
The fuselage is all riveted aluminum in construction with hexagonal bulkheads. The drawings were modified from a one ninth scale set of radio-controlled aircraft plans.
Advertisement
The plane is a single-seat that, as Jack intended it, handles much like a Cessna. It has a wingspan of 34 feet and 7 inches, and is 25 feet long (762 cm). Kosi calls the Bally Bomber underpowered, but it still cruises at 110 knots.
Despite being a scale replica, the aircraft is relatively large for a homebuilt aircraft with 34 ft (10.4 m) wingspan. Most homebuilt aircraft are single engine designs with a few twin engine models produced, making the four-engined homebuilt a rarity in itself.
Specs
- Crew: 1
- Wingspan: 34 ft. 7 in.
- Length: 24 ft.
- Powerplant: 4 × Hirth F-30 Two cycle piston, 85 hp
- Propellers: 3-bladed
