Pitts Special

The Pitts Special is an aerobatic biplane designed by Curtis Pitts ( 1915-2005 ). The design is executed in traditional hybrid design, ie a welded steel tube fuselage and wings made ​​of wood. The initial design work on the original version began already in 1942. The first flight took place in 1945, with an engine that had just 55 hp (about 56 hp). The empty weight was about 500 lb ( approximately 227 kg).

History

The Pitts Special is the epitome of aerobatic biplane. The first Kunstflugeindecker, who came up at the benefits of Pitts was the Yakovlev Yak - 50th Apart from the stronger engine and some aerodynamic improvements on the wings and controls - - Since the first flight in 1945, the Pitts have hardly changed. Curtis Pitts has helped to develop numerous monoplane for air racing. The Pitts Special was first built as a single piece. Although the single-seater had only 55 hp (about 56 hp), but was nevertheless suitable for aerobatics. After installing a 90 hp ( about 91 hp) engine aerobatics was always pleasant. In 1947, he finally built the second biplane "Little Stinker " with 85 hp ( about 86 hp) to him by the American Kunstfliegerin Betty Skelton bought from now until 1950 and with whom she won numerous titles, which established the fame of Pitt. Henceforth, the plans of the Pitts in the DIY scene were highly prized.

Only in 1971 was the S2A, the two-seater Pitts developed (Big Stinker ), which had 203 hp compared with the then 182 -hp smaller S1 little too tired. Only in the S2B brought a six- cylinder 8.9 liter displacement 260 hp (about 264 hp) one of S1 comparable flight feeling.

Certified versions of the compact Pitts Special are still made by the company Aviat in Afton (Wyoming). The production of single-seater versions S1T and S1 - 11B takes place only on request. However, plans for versions S1S and S1 - 11B may still be purchased at Aviat. Only the two-seater with 260 hp S2C (approx. 264 hp) and approximately 6 m span is still to get " off the line ".

The Pitts in competition aerobatics

Curtis Pitts designs dominated by long -time national and international aerobatic championships. So flew 4 of 6 members of the U.S. national team in 1970 Pitts Specials and won the World Cup. 1972 even flew all seven members of the U.S. team Pitts Specials and again won the world title. The U.S. national championships from 1969-72 were obtained from pilots to Pitts Specials. ( Author's note: Since the source is from the year 1973, there are, of course, from this absence of information, such as the Pitts Specials subsequent years dominated national and international aerobatic championships. ) Despite the triumphal march of Extra 300, Edge 540 and various other high-performance aerobatic aircraft appear aircrafts of Pitts still in the lower categories of regional championships.

Custom Builds

Even today, many plans and accessories can be purchased for different versions of S1, which is why there are hundreds of different home-built Pitts S1.

One of the most famous descendants of the Pitts Special is the twin seat Christen Eagle, which visually differs in the more angular shape of the cowling and the slightly modified form of the rudder of the " Pitts " original.

Versions

  • Pitts S1: The first " Pitts " Design of C. Pitts, first flight 1945.
  • Pitts S1 -C: called in the parlance as " Flatwing " because it has an unbalanced M-6 airfoil section and the bottom of the surface profile relatively straight ( "flat" ) is. C for Continental because this version was originally planned with a Continental engine, even though most C- models were later fitted with a Lycoming. Ailerons only on the lower wing.
  • Pitts S1 -D: In principle, a C model with a longer fuselage and four ailerons.
  • Pitts S1 -S: Also called " Roundwing ", 1973 approved, there were about 65 built, symmetric airfoil with four asymmetric ailerons. From 1981, with the introduction of the Model T, the blueprints of Curtis were released.
  • Pitts S1- E: This is for DIY projects of the S- model. There about 100 kits were sold, some of which have been admitted as S1- S, but the exact number is unknown.
  • Pitts S1- T: Modified S model with 200 hp (about 203 hp ) instead of 180 hp (about 183 hp) and variable pitch propeller, also symmetrical ailerons for a higher roll rate.
  • Pitts Model 11-260: Even under S1 -11A known. The prototype of the " Super Stinker " was completed in 1993. Complete redesign with 260 hp (about 264 HP) ( Lycoming AEIO - 540). This single-seat design of C. Pitts was built to compete in the monoplanes dominated by the " Unlimited" class can. So Pitts had made ​​a full FE calculation for this design.
  • Pitts S1- 11B: From Aviat modified " Super Stinker " S1 -11A with up to 300 hp (about 304 hp). Plans for this " super duper Stinker " are to have at Aviat.
  • Pitts Model 12: First flight of the prototype of the "Macho Stinker " 1996 This is the final draft of Curtis with a Russian Wedenejew M-14P/M14PF (360 hp/400 hp ) (ca. 365/406 HP) radial engine. .
  • Pitts S2 -A: The prototype was "Big Stinker " baptized. First two-seater version with 200 hp (about 203 hp) and propeller. The first S2A flew in 1967 and was approved in 1971.
  • Pitts S2 -S: Single-seat derivative of the S2 - A, but with a six-cylinder AEIO - 540.
  • Pitts S2 -B: Design of Frank Christensen the designer of the Christen Eagle and thus not a "real " Pitts from the pen of Curtis Pitts. Bigger engine ( six-cylinder AEIO -540 instead of a four-cylinder AEIO -360 ) with 260 hp (about 264 hp ) instead of 200 hp (about 203 hp ) of 2A. The 2B is probably the most common " Pitts " with built in 200 copies.
  • Pitts S2C: The successor of the Pitts S2B and re- designed by Curtis Pitts. Most striking is certainly that both the ends of the wings and the tail has received an angular shape and an aerodynamically optimized hood was designed.

Specifications

  • Wingspan: 6.10 m
  • Length: 5.41 m
  • Height: 1.94 m
  • Wing area: 11.61 m²
  • Empty weight: 454 kg
  • Maximum takeoff weight: 680 kg
  • Engine: Avco Lycoming IO-360 - A1A with 150 kW ( 203 hp )
  • Maximum speed: 253 km / h
  • Service ceiling: 6,125 m
  • Use range: 850 km
  • Crew: 1-2

The data refer to the S -2A Special

Extra EA-300 Zivko Edge 540 Aviat Eagle II Continental Motors Company
651941
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