Pitts Special - WikiHQ

right|thumb|Little Stinker in the Smithsonian

right|thumb|S-1S

right|thumb|Modified S-1S

thumb|Christen Industries S-2B Pitts Special belonging to the [[Pitts Specials Formation Aerobatic Team]]

right|thumb|2001 Aviat Pitts S-2C

right|thumb|S-1-11B Pitts Special

thumb|right|Pitts S-2A

thumb|right|Cockpit of Pitts S-2A

thumb|right|Pitts S-2B

thumb|right|Pitts S-1E

thumb|right|Pitts S-1T

thumb|right|Pitts Special in flight

The Pitts Special (company designations S-1 and S-2) is a series of light aerobatic biplanes designed by Curtis Pitts. It has accumulated many competition wins since its first flight in 1944. The Pitts biplanes dominated world aerobatic competition in the 1960s and 1970s and, even today, remain potent competition aircraft in the lower categories.

Design and development

Curtis Pitts began the design of a single-seat aerobatic biplane in 1943–1944. The design has been refined continuously since the prototype first flew in September 1944; however, the current Pitts S-2 still remains quite close to the original in concept and in design.

In 1962 Curtis Pitts set up Pitts Enterprises to sell plans of the S-1C to homebuilders.

Current versions

Certified versions of the Pitts are now produced by Aviat Aircraft in Afton, Wyoming. It is available as the S-1 single-seater with an up to 200 hp (150 kW) flat-4 Lycoming engine and a 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m) wingspan, or as the S-2 two-seater variant featuring a 260 hp (194 kW) flat-6 Lycoming and a 20 ft (6.1 m) wingspan. Pitts Specials have been equipped with engines of up to 450 hp (338 kW).

Operational history

All single-seat (S-1) and two-seat (S-2) Pitts Specials are variations of the basic design from 1944.

The aircraft was popularized by Betty Skelton, Caro Bayley, and other air show performers, which led to the offering of plans in 1962.

In 1972, the US Aerobatic Team won the World Championships flying only Pitts biplanes. with the Afton factory and production rights being transferred to Aviat.

Curtis Pitts died in 2005 at age 89. At the time of his death, he was working with Steen on the prototype of the new Pitts Model 14, a brand new, two-seat biplane designed for unlimited aerobatics powered by the 400 horsepower Vedeneyev M14P radial engine. The rights to the Pitts name is currently owned by Aviat which also owns the similar model to the Pitts in the Christen Eagle. Suderman flew the Sunbird S-1x, a Lycoming IO-540-powered experimental variant of the Pitts S1. The maneuver began from 24,500' over the Yuma Proving Grounds and was recovered at 2,000' AGL. The previous world record for the number of consecutive turns in a flat spin was 81 also set by Spencer Suderman on March 13, 2014 in a Pitts S-2B from 23,000 ft altitude over the Naval Air Facility El Centro.

Variants

;S-1

:Basic single-seat Pitts aerobatic biplane with a flat M6 aerofoil section and lower wing ailerons only, fitted with a variety of engines. Two were built, the first named Special and the second Li'l Stinker.

;S-1C

:Amateur-built S-1 single-seat aircraft, flat bottom wing with ailerons on lower wing only, designed for 100–180 hp (75–134 kW) engines. First flown in 1960, the S-1 is currently available as a plans-built aircraft from Steen Aero Lab.

;S-1D

:Amateur-built S-1C with ailerons on all four wings, generally similar to S-1S.

;S-1E

:Amateur-built S-1C using factory-produced kits. Uses symmetrical airfoil.

;S-1SS

:Similar to the certified S-1S "Roundwing". 180–200+ hp (134–149 kW), single-seat, homebuilt, symmetrical wing, four symmetrical "Super-Stinker" style ailerons, 300 degree/s roll rate, fixed-pitch propeller. This model is available in plans and components form from Steen Aero Lab.

;S-1T

:Aerotek-built S-1C with a 200 hp (149 kW) Lycoming AEIO-360-A1E and minor changes; 64 built.

;S-2

:Scaled up S-1 with tandem two-seat fuselage and powered by a 200 hp (149 kW) Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A piston engine.

Royal Jordanian Falcons aerobatic team (4 S-2As)

Civil operators

Goodyear Eagles Aerobatics Display Team - 4 X Aviat S-2B
Pitts Specials Formation Aerobatic Team – 2 X S-2B

Aircraft on display

Canada

S-1C on static display at the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
S-2A on static display at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario.

Italy

S-1T on static display at Volandia in Somma Lombardo, Varese.

United States

S-1 on static display at the MAPS Air Museum in North Canton, Ohio.
S-1C on static display at the Aerospace Museum of California in North Highlands, California.
S-1C on static display at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California.
S-1C on static display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
S-1C on static display at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia.
S-1S on static display at the San Diego Air and Space Museum in San Diego, California.
S-1S On static display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
S-2 on static display at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
S-2B on static display at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas.
On static display at the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton, Virginia.
On static display at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado.

Specifications

thumb|Pitts S-1S museum information desk