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Thread: Want to own the Bally Bomber?

  1. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by CHICAGORANDY View Post
    I recall Mr Bally mentioning at AirVenture that he isn't able to fly the plane (I think he said he lost his medical?) so that may play a role in the decision to let it go?
    I don't know anything about any medical issues Mr. Bally might or might not have. But I saw the airplane at OSH and talked to his pilot. The reason given that he can't fly the airplane was that he does not have a multi engine rating, and his insurance company won't let him fly it without one. (Since it's an EAB and he's the builder, the FAA has no problem with it.)

    - Andy

  2. #12

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    Of all the things I've lost over the past 69 years... I miss my mind the most - lol

  3. #13

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    The idea that this is only worth "scrap " value doesn't take into account how fine this airplane is. If you haventt seen it youd be amazed, it looks 95% like a B-17 except maybe it is half the size, I has 4 real radial engines and retract gear just like a real one. only when you stand next to it it is less than head high. If it flys well, no handling or cooling problems for instance I think the price is realistic. Yes. you could get a genuine T-28 for that price, but what you would have is a nice flying airplane that is just like a hundred others. This Bally Bomber is unique and is about the coolest thing around. Id love to have it if I had the money.

  4. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Greenwood View Post
    The idea that this is only worth "scrap " value doesn't take into account how fine this airplane is. If you haventt seen it youd be amazed, it looks 95% like a B-17 except maybe it is half the size, I has 4 real radial engines and retract gear just like a real one. only when you stand next to it it is less than head high. If it flys well, no handling or cooling problems for instance I think the price is realistic. Yes. you could get a genuine T-28 for that price, but what you would have is a nice flying airplane that is just like a hundred others. This Bally Bomber is unique and is about the coolest thing around. Id love to have it if I had the money.
    Oh no I get it. Saying it is worth scrap may be a little rough but it is what it is. IMHO It will never bring this kinda cash. It would be cool to be proven wrong here, but I doubt that will ever happen either. Like I said, my buddy is building an award winning Onex. His builds have already won awards at Oshkosh. But he knows he will never get anything close to what he has in it. Just because this bird looks like a B-17 don't mean it is worth what one cost even scaled down. Again I hope to be proven wrong. Time will tell. But we all know how stories like this end.

    Again I hope I am wrong. Please someone prove me wrong. One very nice looking airplane or B-B-17. the first B stands for..Baby.
    Last edited by 1600vw; 10-12-2018 at 01:11 PM.

  5. #15
    Dana's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Greenwood View Post
    The idea that this is only worth "scrap " value doesn't take into account how fine this airplane is. If you haventt seen it youd be amazed, it looks 95% like a B-17 except maybe it is half the size, I has 4 real radial engines and retract gear just like a real one. only when you stand next to it it is less than head high. If it flys well, no handling or cooling problems for instance I think the price is realistic. Yes. you could get a genuine T-28 for that price, but what you would have is a nice flying airplane that is just like a hundred others. This Bally Bomber is unique and is about the coolest thing around. Id love to have it if I had the money.
    It has Rotax engines, not radials. While it's a magnificent build, I doubt that it "flies well", at least by ordinary sport plane standards; it's probably rather demanding. I have also heard reports that it's somewhat underpowered. Not a plane you'd just jump in for a $100 hamburger run.

  6. #16

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    Well, it could be that pesky operating limitation #17 that is standard issue for EAB airplanes:


    17. The pilot in command of this aircraft must hold an appropriate category/class rating. If required, the pilot in command also must hold a type rating in accordance with FAR 61, or a letter of authorization issued by an FAA Flight Standards Operations Inspector.

  7. #17

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    Dana, the listing from Courtesy says Hirth engines, not Rotax. I was mistaken about the radial part, I thought I saw them that way at Oshkosh. The engines are 60 hp so 240 total which doesnt seem bad for an empty weight of only 1800 lbs. And how would you expect it to fly poorly, what do you base that on? Have you seen this plane or better yet seen it fly?
    A real B-17 flies very well.
    As for ratings, a pilot was flying it at Oshkosh, so he must have had a rating. Maybe all you need is a regular light twin rating to get a Letter of Authorization.
    And maybe you guys dont think this plane is extraordinary and want to find negatives about it, but I think it is special.
    Last edited by Bill Greenwood; 10-12-2018 at 05:30 PM.

  8. #18

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    Bill I don't believe anyone is saying this airplane is not special. I also don't believe anyone is being negative about this airplane. What we are being is realistic.

  9. #19

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    The four cylinder Hirth engines were direct drive (and not factory proven as direct drive). Hard to say what power in direct drive.

  10. #20

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    May produce lots of power but it that's not converted into thrust it will fly like it's under powered.

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