Pitts Special
.jpg) Pitts Special. Photo: Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
| |
| Make | Pitts |
|---|---|
| Model | Pitts Special |
| Type | Aerobatic biplane |
| Country |  United States
|
| First flight | September 1944 |
| Status | In production |
| Registered in the US | 1,095 (FAA register, October 30, 2026) |
| Seats | one |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360-B4A, 180-200 hp |
| Cruise speed | 140 mph |
| Range | 350 nmi |
| Max weight | 1100-1950 lb
|
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The Pitts Special (models S-1 and S-2) is a series of light aerobatic biplanes designed by Curtis Pitts. Since its first flight in 1944 it has won many competitions: Pitts biplanes dominated world aerobatic competition in the 1960s and 1970s and are still strong in the lower categories.[1] In the U.S. there are 1,095 with a valid registration, factory-built and homebuilt together.[2]
History
Curtis Pitts began designing a single-seat aerobatic biplane in 1943 and 1944, and the prototype flew in September 1944. The design has been refined ever since, yet today's S-2 is still close to the original. Several of Pitts' airplanes wore a picture of a skunk and were called "Stinkers": aerobatic performer Betty Skelton called the second one, which she bought, "Little Stinker", and the first two-seat S-2 prototype was "Big Stinker".[1]
In 1962 Curtis Pitts set up Pitts Enterprises to sell plans of the single-seat S-1C to homebuilders. Certified Pitts biplanes are now built by Aviat Aircraft in Afton, Wyoming.[1] The two-seat S-2B is the most common on the U.S. register.[2]
Registered in the United States
The FAA register lists 1,095 of these airplanes with a valid U.S. registration. Here they are by the model name the FAA uses.[2]
| FAA model name | Registered |
|---|---|
| PITTS S-2B | 165 |
| PITTS S-2A | 82 |
| S-1A | 66 |
| S-2C | 58 |
| PITTS SPECIAL S-1S | 53 |
| PITTS S1S | 40 |
| PITTS SPECIAL S-1 | 40 |
| S-1C | 37 |
| PITTS MODEL 12 | 36 |
| PITTS S-1 | 34 |
| PITTS S-1T | 34 |
| PITTS SPECIAL | 33 |
| S-2B | 31 |
| PITTS S-1S | 28 |
| PITTS S-1C | 19 |
| PITTS SPECIAL S-1C | 17 |
| PITTS S1C | 17 |
| S-1T | 13 |
| PITTS S2S | 12 |
| PITTS S1 | 10 |
| 122 other model names | 270 |
Specifications
| Item | Pitts Special |
|---|---|
| Crew | one |
| Length | 15 ft 6 in |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in |
| Wing area | 125.0 sq ft |
| Empty weight | 710-720 lb |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1100-1950 lb |
| Fuel | 19 USgal |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360-B4A, 180-200 hp (air-cooled four-cylinder engine) |
| Maximum speed | 156 mph |
| Cruise speed | 140 mph |
| Stall speed | 57 mph |
| Range | 350 nmi |
| Rate of climb | 2,600 ft/min |
Figures as given in the Wikipedia article and its sources.[1]
Photos
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Pitts Special. Photo: see the file page on Commons, Public domain -
Pitts S-1E (G-OKAY) at Kemble Airfield, Gloucestershire, England. Photo: Arpingstone, Public domain -
Pitts Special. Photo: see the file page on Commons, Public domain -
PITTS -S2B at Dobova (Slovenia) air race. Photo: 5erK, Public domain -
Pitts Special S-1T at Arnprior Airport. Photo: Ahunt, Public domain -
Modified Pitts S-1S. Photo: Pittss1pilot, Public domain -
2001 Aviat Pitts S-2C (N126BB). Photo: PHSchmidt at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 -
Christen Industries S-2B Pitts Special belonging to the Pitts Specials Formation Aerobatic Team. Photo: Ahunt at English Wikipedia, Public domain
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All photos are from Wikimedia Commons; click a photo for its full credit and license.
Buying a Pitts Special
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wikipedia, "Pitts Special", read November 1, 2026. Airplane Wiki's text is written in its own words; facts are checked against this article and its sources.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Federal Aviation Administration, Releasable Aircraft Database, file dated October 30, 2026. Valid registrations of fixed-wing airplanes whose FAA maker and model names belong to this family. Airplane Wiki uses only counts from this file, never owner names or addresses.