ULTRA BABY

Bowers Ultra Baby: The Ultralight Heir to a Classic

The Ultra Baby is a fascinating downsized version of the world-famous Bowers Fly Baby. Designed to capture the charm and flying qualities of its “big brother” but in a smaller package, it is a 75% scale replica intended to flirt with the edges of the ultralight regulations. It offers the classic low-wing, open-cockpit experience of the 1920s, but powered by an economical automotive conversion engine.

Why Is It a Legend?

• The “Mini-Fly Baby”: It retains the iconic lines and “fighter-like” feel of the original Fly Baby but scales it down for efficiency. It features a cantilever low-wing design and fixed conventional gear, giving it a timeless silhouette.

• Traditional Wood Construction: Like its predecessor, the Ultra Baby is a woodworker’s project. It is built from wood with flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. It avoids complex composite molds or welded fuselages, making it accessible to traditional scratch-builders.

• The Ultralight Ambition: While often built as an Experimental aircraft (due to the weight of standard engines), it was designed with the US FAR 103 category in mind. With a lightweight enough engine, it can legally fly as an ultralight (under 254 lbs), offering regulatory freedom.

• Half-VW Power: It is the poster child for the “Half-VW” engine (a Volkswagen beetle engine cut in half to make a 2-cylinder). This provides a perfect balance of reliability, sound, and low cost, typically producing around 48 hp.

Performance and Key Numbers
The Ultra Baby is designed for fun, not speed. With a low wing loading, it offers a gentle and responsive ride, perfect for local patrols and grass strips.

General Specifications:

• Crew: 1 pilot

• Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)

• Length: 16 ft (4.88 m)

• Wing Area: 121.5 sq ft (11.29 m²)

• Empty Weight: 300 lb (136 kg) with Half-VW (can be lighter with smaller engines)

• Max Takeoff Weight: 620 lb (281 kg)

• Useful Load: 320 lb (150 kg)

• Typical Engine Power: 35 – 52 hp (Standard is 48 hp Half-VW)

Performance:

• Cruise Speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)

• Maximum Speed: 75 mph (121 km/h)

• Stall Speed: 35 mph (56 km/h)

• Rate of Climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)

• Wing Loading: 5.1 lb/sq ft (25 kg/m ²)

• Fuel Capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L)

• Range: Approx. 150 miles (241 km)

In short, the Bowers Ultra Baby is the perfect choice if you love the classic look of the Fly Baby but want a smaller, more economical machine that you can build from wood plans and power with a cut-down car engine.