1/3 Scale B-17 - Single Pilot

[Seth]

Check this out:

 

1/3 scale B-17 with a single pilot - 34 foot wingspan - about the size of a cessna 140 (single pilot).  If you check the 2013 pictures you'll see how good she looks.  The've been buliding this from scratch since 1999.

 

My grandfather flew B-17s so I perosnally have a connection to pretty much any B-17 out there - love them.

 

http://theballybomber.com/index.html

 

-Seth

[1964-M20E]

Awesome.  I’d be afraid to fly it just for fear of destroying the hours of time invested.  Truly a labor of love here.  It should be flown at least once and then put in a museum.  The WWII museum in New Orleans would be a good spot and there are plenty of other museums that it would be worthy of having this work of art and passion.

 

I’d love to see it fly.

[Seth]

Evidently there's a lot of plubing, avionics, and electrical work still to complete.  The last 5% of a build takes forever evidently.

 

The video of the first flight will go viral through the avaition community.  He says he expects it to handle like a four engined . . . cub.

 

-Seth

[aviatoreb]

That is so awesome.  It is almost just an oversized model that you can fly from inside rather than by RC.

 

What is it using for engines?

 

Do you need a 4 engine checkout or would a twin engine checkout work?

[N601RX]

Someone had sent me an article about this a few months ago, If I remember correctly they were using 2 stroke Hurth engines. I've done 2 experimental before and the last 10% of the work is really 90% of the work.

[yvesg]

Erik, I believe you would need a "multi-engine" checkout. There is no such twin engine checkout.

Yves

[Seth]

Do you need a multi engine checkout if it is a single seat expiramental with no passengers?  Wondering if there is some sort of exception.

 

-Seth

[aviatoreb]

Yes yves, of course . I forgot it's called multi engine.

... All I have is a single engine land. . I can't count past one...engine.

[Buster1]

You know, companies are making kit cars and replica Cobras and so forth...why not a full scale B-17?  I know there are some 3/4 scale P-51s and such that have amazing performance.  I think full scale replicas with modern engines and avionics of some of these relics would be pretty cool actually.

[aviatoreb]

You know, companies are making kit cars and replica Cobras and so forth...why not a full scale B-17?  I know there are some 3/4 scale P-51s and such that have amazing performance.  I think full scale replicas with modern engines and avionics of some of these relics would be pretty cool actually.

 

But what would you do with a full sized B-17?  Its too late to invade Europe.

 

Now a P51- that's cool.  There's a really nice looking P51-mini on ebay lately called the Thunder Mustang.  Uses some kind of V12.  It actually outperforms the original for speed and climb - 300mph and 6000fpm.