This is not a remote controlled “model” airplane but is designed and built for a pilot to fly it, but has not been flown yet!!!
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
No comments:
Post a Comment