Aerobatics

Aerobatics is a rare electro-mechanical (EM) Add-A-Ball pinball machine from Zaccaria of Bologna, Italy, with artwork by Lorenzo Rimondini. Its exact release year is unknown, though Zaccaria operated from 1974 to 1987. As an Add-A-Ball game -- rather than a replay machine -- Aerobatics has no provisions for replay mode; the replay unit was never installed, and a red film covers the replay window on the backglass.

The machine features a comprehensive array of shots for its type: two flippers, two pop bumpers, two slingshots, three drop targets, three standup targets, two kick-out holes, and two spinning targets. Bounce-back outlanes let players nudge a drained ball back into play, and the game awards an end-of-ball bonus across 5-ball play, though the last two digits of the score are always fixed at zero, capping the displayed score at 9,999,900 points.

A replay version of this same game was released by Zaccaria in 1977, also titled 'Aerobatics.' Interestingly, this Add-A-Ball edition's match feature was never fully wired -- the ten match numbers along the top of the backbox insert never received lamp sockets, and the Balls To Play indicator can display no higher than 9. Rimondini's aviation-themed artwork captures the aircraft and flying theme throughout, making this an interesting variant for collectors comparing Zaccaria's replay and add-a-ball production.