1.  1/3 Scale B-17

Note: This is not an RC aircraft!!

This is a fully flyable, experimental aircraft with 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.




The project was started back in 1999 and is just now nearing completion.

The airframe is all scratch built (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 4-cylinder 2-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 Illinois , has to rank as one of the most fascinating home built aircraft projects of all time.

It's the kind of idea that weird people like me 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 <http://theballybomber.com/>


How cool would this be with 4 rotaries!

Gary Knutson

Its cool :-)

I would rather have a 1/4 scale rotary powered Spruce Goose.
You could use it as a intercontinental range flying motor home.
Take off on all eight. Shut down and feather some as needed for range.

   Length: 218 ft 8 in (66.65 m)
   Wingspan: 320 ft 11 in (97.54 m)
   Height: 79 ft 4 in (24.18 m)
   Fuselage height: 30 ft (9.1 m)
   Empty weight 250,000 lb (113,399 kg)
   Loaded weight: 400,000 lb (180,000 kg)
   Powerplant 8 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines  3,000 hp (2,640 kW) each

   Propellers: four-bladed Hamilton Standard  prop, one per engine
   Propeller diameter: 17 ft 2 in (5.23 m)

Paul Lamar


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