Pitts S-1 Special
Pitts Aerobatics · United States · first flew 1944 · light aircraft
The Pitts S-1 Special is a single-seat aerobatic biplane that has dominated world aerobatic competition since the 1960s, renowned for its extraordinary roll rate and compact dimensions. Designed by Curtis Pitts, it remains the benchmark for unlimited aerobatic biplanes.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 4.71 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat biplane with staggered equal-chord wings and exposed radial or inline engine
- Very compact airframe with symmetrical aerofoil on both wing planes
- Fixed taildragger undercarriage and open or bubble canopy
Identified by the very short biplane configuration with equal-span staggered wings, no fixed interplane struts forward of the spar attachment point, and the compact taildragger stance. Much smaller than the two-seat S-2.
Specifications
- The Pitts S-1 Special has a length of 4.71 m (15 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 5.28 m (17 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 283 km/h (176 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First built by Curtis Pitts and flown in 1944, the S-1 was developed through many homebuilt and factory iterations to become the dominant unlimited aerobatic aircraft at World Championships in the 1960s and 1970s. Aviat (formerly Christen Industries) produced factory versions from 1977.
Variants
The S-1S has a symmetrical aerofoil; the S-1T introduced a more powerful Lycoming AEIO-360; the S-1-11B Super Stinker is an extended competition development. Plans are available for homebuilding.
Where you'll see it
A staple of British aerobatic competition; the S-1 appears regularly at BAeA contests in Intermediate through Unlimited categories and is a crowd favourite at UK airshows. Many are homebuilt.
Related aircraft
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