Pitts Special

The Pitts Special, a series of light aerobatics biplanes designed by Curtis Pitts, which have accumulated more competition wins than any other aircraft since its first flight in 1944. The Pitts Special dominated world aerobatic competition in the 1960s and 1970s and even today remains a potent competition aircraft in the lower categories. They are named for their designer Curtis Pitts.

Designations

• All single seat (S1n) and two seat (S2n) are high performance biplanes with variations of a design that started in 1944. The design was popularized by Betty Skelton, Caro Bayley, and other performers, which lead to the offering of plans around 1960.
• S-1C = Plans built aircraft, flat bottom wing, two aileron, single seat engine was normally anything from an 85 hp continental to a 180 hp Lycoming, fixed pitch prop
• S-1D = Just an S-1C but with 4 ailerons
• S-1E Like S1-S, but homebuilt (E for Experimental) symmetrical wing.
• S-1S = 180 - 200+ hp, single seat, factory or homebuilt, symmetrical wing, 4 ailerons, fixed pitch prop.
• S-1T = 200 hp Lycoming IO360, 4 aileron, single seat, factory built, symmetrical wing, constant speed 2 blade Hartzell prop.
• S-1-11B = 300+ hp Lycoming, 4 aileron, single seat, experimental-plans or factory built and factory component parts, symmetric airfoil, 3 blade constant speed prop rolls better than 400 degree/s, climbs better than 4000 ft/min
• S-2A = 200 hp Lycoming, 4 aileron, 2 seat, factory built, symmetrical airfoil, constant speed 2 blade Hartzell prop
• S-2B = 260 hp Lycoming, 4 aileron, 2 seat (larger fuselage than S2-A), factory built, symmetric airfoil, constant speed 2 blade Hartzell prop with options for a 3 blade MT or 3 blade Hartzell composite prop.
• S-2C = 260 hp Lycoming, 4 aileron, 2 seat, factory built, symmetric airfoil, constant speed 3 blade prop , current production model. Improved version of S-2B, with improved ailerons and rudder.
• S-2E = basically a kit built S-2A (maybe a few plans built)
• S-2S = 260 hp Lycoming IO540, 4 aileron, single seat, factory built, symmetrical wing, constant speed prop, 2 blade Hartzell prop...derivative of the S-2A, factory built, often used by airshow performers such as Jim LeRoy of Bulldog Airshows.
• Model 12 = 360 hp M14P Russian radial engine, Russian 2-blade or 3 blade MT propellor, plans built, component parts available.
• Model 13 - a "coupe" type monoplane design. It was never built.
• Model 14 - A new design being built by Steen Aero Lab (www.steenaero.com) Two-place, 400hp M14.
• Model 15 - Reported as a Light Sport type monoplane aircraft being developed by Steen Aero Lab.