Mark Hobley
PITTS SPECIAL

Pitts On Ground
 Pitts In Flight

The Pitts Special light aerobatics biplanes have accumulated more competition wins than any other aircraft. The Pitts Special dominated the world of aerobatic competition in the 1960s and the 1970s and even today, remains a potent competition aircraft in the lower categories.

Curtis Pitts began work on design of the Pitts Special in Jacksonville, Florida, 1942. The aircraft was first powered by a 90 hp Franklin engine and made its first flight in 1944. Development of the homebuilt aircraft continued for 25 years, with the design being continually refined to improve aerobatic performance. By 1962, the standard engine had increased to 180 hp. In 1966 a symmetrical airfoil was added to improve the performance of the aircraft in inverted flight.

In 1970, the Pitts Aerobatics company was formed in Wyoming, USA and the first Pitts Special S-2A was produced in 1971. Aviat Incorporated acquired the rights to the Pitts Special aircraft in March 1991 the aircraft is now produced at Aviat Aircraft Incorporated in Afton, Wyoming.

The Pitts Special is available as an S1 single seater or as an S2 two seater variant.
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