The prototype Fly Baby first flew in 1962. It is now on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Variants include a biplane version called the Bowers Bi-Baby or Fly Baby 1-B and several dual cockpit designs by various builders. Bowers also designed a side-by-side two-seat version he called Namu, but few examples have been built. The Fly Baby was the winner of the Experimental Aircraft Association's 1962 design competition. Over 500 Fly Babies have been completed to date, with scores still flying worldwide and an active network of builders and owners. It is built from plans and was designed to be constructed in a garage using only basic hand tools, by a person of average "home handyman" skill in 1962. The plans consist of over one hundred pages of typewritten instructions and dimensioned drawings. After Bowers' death in 2003 the plans were unavailable for a time, but starting in 2007 they were back on the market, sold by the Bowers family.
Design
The Fly Baby was designed to be a very simple aircraft. For example, the fuel gauge is a stiff wire attached to a float poking up through the gas cap. The structure is of aircraft-grade spruce and plywood, covered with dopedaircraft fabric. Aileron controls are push-tube, elevator controls are a combination of push-tube and cable, the rudder is cable-controlled. The landing gear is fixed and unsprung. The main landing gear struts are made of laminated wood with a steel axle. The only shock absorption comes from the tires themselves. Hydraulic wheel brakes are usually fitted. The aircraft was designed to be powered by a 65-horsepower Continental A-65piston engine taken from a Piper Cub. Engines of up to 100 horsepower have been fitted, including the Continental O-200 and converted Corvair automotive conversions. While the instrumentation installed is up to the builder, most Fly Babys are equipped for visual flight rules only. An electrical system is optional; many Fly Baby owners hand-prop the engine for starting, and use a handheld radio. The Fly Baby's wings fold up against the fuselage enabling it to be stored in a single-car garage or a car trailer. The wings can be folded or unfolded in about 15 minutes. The airplane was designed to be stored in a garage and towed to the airport on its own gear. In practice, most owners use a trailer or keep their Fly Baby hangared at an airport. Some of the components used, such as the fuel tank and engine, were designed to be taken from the Piper Cub, which were cheap and plentiful in 1962. Even today, the total cost of construction can be under US$10,000.
