Note: This is not an R/C aircraft. This is a fully flyable, experimental aircraft made to 1/3 scale of the original Boeing plane. With the four engines, retracts, and a total of over 240 HP, this would be considered a complex category of airplane and require a special certification on your pilot's license to be allowed to fly it. It sure looks like it would be a fun one...
Jack Bally started the project back in 1999 and it is just now nearing completion. The airframe is all scratchbuilt (of course) and made out of aluminum. The main gear retracts just like the real B-17, and has proven to be the most complicated part of the project. The engines are the Hirth 3002 four-cylinder two-stroke that usually have a reduction unit and make about 80 HP. Jack chose this engine because of its size... it was small enough to fit inside a properly-scaled nacelle. However, to make it fit properly, the reduction unit is removed which will bring the power down around 60 HP each, with the engines spinning the 46.4" diameter props at about 3,300 RPM.
This project, coming to life in Dixon, IL, has to rank as one of the most fascinating homebuilt aircraft projects of all time. It's the kind of idea that weird people dream up but rarely does anyone actually follow though. With an estimated 20,000 hours of labor required to build this cute little beast, it's understandable why. With a 34 ft 7 in wingspan, estimated 1,800 pound weight, and four 60 HP engines for a total of 240 HP, the Bally Bomber is just pure awesome! Be sure to check out the hundreds of pix from the build process along with additional info at TheBallyBomber.com. [Ed note: the website is offline today...]
Thanks to Butch Dunaway for informing me about this incredible homebuilt scale B-17.
