See also: Pitts

Special Pitts is a light Biplan of aerobaticss conceived by Curtis Pitts, which accumulated more victories in competition than any other plane since its first flight in 1944. Pitts Special dominated the competition in the years 1960 and the years 1970 and, even at the beginning of the 21e century, there remains an effective plane in competition in the lower categories.

Development and history

Few planes will have marked their time like special Pitts, and nowadays, the plane in the course of production is rather close to the original design which made its first flight in 1944. Many planes built by Pitts had a drawing of fitchet on the fuselage and were affectionately called “stinker” (“which been able”!). Thus the prototype of the two-seater S-2B was called “big stinker”, that of the S1-11B “super stinker” and that of Model 12 “macho stinker”.

Curtis Pitts is deceased with old 89 years, and with its death, it was still working on the prototype of Pitts Special Model 14, a surpuissant two-seater been driven by a Russian engine of 400ch radial which one finds on Soukhoi 31.

Today, it is the Aviat american company which holds the certificates and right of Pitts Special but also those of close Christen Eagle.

Today

A certified version of Pitts Special is in production in the USA by Aviat with Afton, Wyoming. There exists a single-seat S1 version been driven by an engine Lycoming 4 cylinders AEIO-360 of 200ch, or a two-seater version equipped with Lycoming 6 cylinders AEIO-540 of 260ch. Pitts Special a long time dominated the categories higher of the world stunt-flying until emergence in years 70-80 of single-seaters monoplane than high efficiencies which supplanted it of unlimited category. However, Pitts remain competitive in the lower categories and always make the spectacle in the air shows because of their inimitable pace and of their frightening promptness. Many specimens were also manufactured by amateurs according to the official plans.

Alternatives

• the S1 versions are single-seaters and S2 of the two-seaters out of tandem. All derive from the apparatus of 1944, made famous in the Sixties for Betty Skelton, Caro Bayley inter alia.
• S-1C = plane to build plans since. Wing without dihedron, 2 ailerons, motorizations of 85 with 180ch. Hélice with fixed chock.
• S-1D = S1C with 4 ailerons
• S-1E = S1-S to be built equipped with a symmetrical wing
• S-1F = Alternative of S1 construction amateur with a wing “Falcon”, salmons right and increased ailerons. Engine variable 200ch chock
• S-1S = construction amateur or factory engines 180 or 200ch, fixed chock, symmetrical wing, 4 ailerons
• S-1T = version does not machine, driving 200ch, variable, wing symmetrical and 4 ailerons
• S-1-11B = special version, driving of 300+ CH, construction amateur, kit or factory. Three-bladed propeller variable step

• S-2 = 180 HP Lycoming, 4 aileron, 2 seat, factory built prototype, symmetrical airfoil, fixed pitch m.

• S-2A = 200 HP Lycoming, 4 aileron, 2 seat, factory built, symmetrical airfoil, constant speed 2 blade Hartzell m.
• S-2B = 260 HP Lycoming, 4 aileron, 2 seat (larger fuselage than S2-A), factory built, symmetric airfoil, constant speed 2 blade Hartzell m. with options for has 3 blade composite MT but 3 blade Hartzell prop.
• S-2C = 260 HP Lycoming, 4 aileron, 2 seat, factory built, symmetric airfoil, constant speed 3 blade m., current model production. Improved version off S-2B, with improved ailerons and cap.
• S-2E = basically has kit built S-2 (maybe has few built plans) (most built to S-2A standard gold S-2B)
• S-2S = 260 HP Lycoming IO540, 4 aileron, individual seat, factory built, symmetrical wing, constant speed m., 2 blade Hartzell m.… derivative off the S-2A, factory built, often used by airshow performers such ace Jim LeRoy off Bulldog Airshows.
• Model 12 - 360 HP M14P radial Russian engine, 2-blade but 3 blade MT propellor, built plans, component shares available. Developed by Jim Kimball Enterprises (www.jimkimballenterprises.com) in Florida.
• Model 13 - has " coupe" type monoplane design. It was never built.
• Model 14 - has new design being built by Steen Aero Lab (www.steenaero.com) Two-place, 400hp M14.
• Model 15 - Reported ace has standard light sport monoplane aircraft being developed by Steen Aero Lab.
• Raptor- Based one the Model 12, has monoplane version off the aircraft, marketed by Jim Kimball Enterprises.

Military users

• Chile, Jordan, Venezuela.

References

• Aviat Aircraft

Bonds

• Aviat Aircraft
• Steen aero lab
• Pitts Model 12 web site - Jim Kimball Enterprises
• Aircraft.co.za - The Complete Aviation Refers
• Airbum.com - The final source for Pitts Information
• The website off the U.K. Pitts display pile Al Coutts
• has off gallery Pitts photographs and year S-1 homebuilders blog website.
• Airliners.net - the largest gallery off Pitts photographs one the Internet
• Wolf Aircraft