Break the sound barrier — Bally’s 1979 Supersonic is a solid-state four-player that captures the jet-age thrill of supersonic flight, designed by the talented Greg Kmiec with art by the great Kevin O’Connor. With an alphanumeric display and a massive confirmed run of 10,340, it was a genuine blockbuster on the route, one of the most-produced machines of its era and a familiar sight in arcades everywhere during pinball’s transition into the solid-state age.
The layout is a clean, satisfying early-solid-state spread: two flippers, three pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, a five-bank of drop targets, four standups, a kick-out hole, a spinning target, and a right-outlane ball return gate to help a player fend off a drain. That five-bank of drops gives a sharp shooter a clear objective to clear, the spinning target offers reliable, repeatable points, and the return gate provides a welcome bit of insurance. It’s the kind of well-balanced, accessible design that made Supersonic such a huge seller — easy to enjoy for anyone who dropped a coin, yet rewarding for a player who works its shots.
Supersonic is a fine example of Bally hitting its stride at the dawn of the solid-state era, pairing Kmiec’s solid design with O’Connor’s striking aviation art to create a machine that sold in enormous numbers for good reason. The jet-age theme captured the era’s fascination with speed and flight, and the huge production run means it introduced countless players to solid-state pinball. For the collector who loves the transitional machines and a proven crowd-pleaser, it’s a worthy pick. Clear the drops, ride the spinner, and break the barrier. It’s high-speed fun from a genuine best-seller.