Skill Flight

Skill Flight, a Nuova Bell Games pinball machine from September 1986, is an Italian-made example of mid-1980s solid-state pinball. Its aviation theme is well-executed, built around a helicopter toy and cockpit-style backglass artwork — the instrument panel is reported to resemble that of a Boeing 707 — that immerses players in a flight scenario.

Gameplay on Skill Flight centers on its ramp-fed multiball setup, which sets it apart from simpler games of its era. The ramp diverter feeds the ball into one of two runway lanes, each worth 50,000 points before kicking the ball upward; hitting all seven standup targets locks the next ball in a runway lane, and successfully locking a second ball within ten seconds sets up a three-ball multiball. With three flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, two kickers, and a spinning target, the layout rewards strategic, precise shooting.

Little is documented about Skill Flight's individual designer or development process. Collectors should also be aware that IPDB notes the existence of an "unbranded" variant without Nuova Bell's logo, of uncertain origin, as well as a grayish-cabinet version with different artwork — underscoring how much about this rare machine's production history remains unclear.