Pitts

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. All single-seat (S-1) and two-seat (S-2) Pitts Specials are variations of the basic design from 1944.
Pitts produced limited numbers of aircraft during the 1940s and 1950s. The Pitts Special became the standard by which all other aerobatic aircraft were judged. After a number of homebuilt aircraft were produced from rough hand-drawn plans produced by Pitts, more professionally drawn plans went on sale in 1962. While many homebuilt aircraft were built in the 1960s, earning the S-1 a reputation as an excellent aerobatic aircraft, Pitts worked on the design of a two-seat aerobatic trainer version, the S-2, which first flew in 1967 and gained its type certificate in 1971. Factory-built aircraft produced by the Aerotek company at Afton, Wyoming, were joined in production by the single-seat S-1S in 1973.
In 1977 Curtis Pitts sold his interests in the Pitts S-1 & S-2 to Doyle Child. Child later sold the rights in 1981 to Frank Christensen, who continued production at the Afton plant under the guise of Christen Industries in 1983. The rights for homebuilt versions of the Pitts were sold in 1994 to Steen Aero Lab, with the Afton factory and production rights being transferred to Aviat.
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).

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Pitts Special

The Pitts Special (company designations S-1 and S-2) is a series of light aerobatic biplanes. Pitts first designed and built the Pitts Special S-1 aircraft which was made specifically for aerobatics. 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 a potent competition aircraft in the lower categories.
In 1983 Pitts was acquired by Christen.

Pitts Special S-1T, registration N202WL, built 1987, serial number LYNN-002
Flugplatz Asperden (EDLG), Asperden, Germany, 20 May 2018

Pitts Special S-2B, registration PH-PEP, built 1992, serial number 5251
Den Helder Airport (Maritiem Vliegkamp De Kooy) (DHR/EHKD), Den Helder, Netherlands, 16 September 2017

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