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Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross, 1937. Creator: William H. Bowlus
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Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross, 1937. Creator: William H. Bowlus
Single-seat, high-wing monoplane glider with wooden monocoque fuselage pod, aluminum tube tail boom, and wooden empennage; fabric-covered rudders and elevators and strut-braced wooden wings partially covered with fabric; hardware and fittings are cast aluminum. William Hawley Bowlus offered the BA-100 Baby Albatross as a series of builders kits advertised in popular magazines to pilots interested in affordable flying at a time when the money for such activities was hard to come by. The kits cost one-fifth the $2, 500 asking price of the higher performance Bowlus-du Pont Senior Albatross (see NASM collection). Bowlus made parts for about 90 aircraft and sold between 40 and 60 kits before the start of World War II ended the program
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Media ID 23872115
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross, a remarkable aircraft designed by William H. Bowlus in 1937. With its sleek and elegant design, this single-seat, high-wing monoplane glider exudes timeless beauty. The wooden monocoque fuselage pod and aluminum tube tail boom perfectly complement the fabric-covered rudders and elevators, as well as the strut-braced wooden wings partially covered with fabric. During a time when affordable flying was scarce due to financial constraints, William Hawley Bowlus introduced the BA-100 Baby Albatross as a series of builders kits advertised in popular magazines. These kits provided pilots with an opportunity to experience the joy of flight at just one-fifth of the price of higher performance aircraft like the Bowlus-du Pont Senior Albatross. With approximately 90 aircraft parts manufactured and between 40 to 60 kits sold before World War II halted production, this glider represents both innovation and accessibility in aviation history. Its significance is further emphasized by its inclusion in the National Air and Space Museum's collection. As we admire this photograph, we are transported back to a pivotal moment in American aviation where craftsmanship met affordability. The legacy left behind by William H. Bowlus continues to inspire future generations fascinated by flight technology and serves as a testament to his ingenuity within the field of aerospace engineering.
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