Stits SA-2A Sky Baby
Stits · United States · first flew 1952 · light aircraft
The Stits SA-2A Sky Baby is a homebuilt aircraft designed to claim the title of the world's smallest. Ray Stits designed it and built it with Robert H. Starr.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tiny negatively staggered cantilever biplane
- Wingspan of only 7 ft 2 in
- Enclosed cockpit with the pilot seated close behind the engine
An enclosed, single-engine, negatively staggered cantilever biplane with the upper wings carrying flaps and the lower wings ailerons. Its engine came from an Ercoupe, modified with water injection to give 112 hp.
Specifications
- The Stits SA-2A Sky Baby has a length of 3 m (10 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 2.18 m (7 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 350 km/h (217 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It followed the Stits Junior midget racer. Robert Starr test flew it on 26 May 1952 at Palm Springs, California.
Variants
Only one was built. It was originally built with tricycle landing gear, which was replaced by a lighter tailwheel arrangement.
Where you'll see it
It made publicity flights to promote an airshow act and was retired in October 1952 after 25 hours of flying. It was donated to the National Air and Space Museum.
Related aircraft
- Stits SA-3A Playboy
- Stits DS-1 Baby Bird
- AISA I-115
- Beecraft Honey Bee
- Brochet MB.60
- Canadair CT-133 Silver Star
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