Photograph:
Pitts S-2 VH-KJG (c/n 2053) at Bowral, NSW in April 1979 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat sport biplane
Power Plant:
One 149 kw (200 hp) Lycoming IO-360-A1A four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.1 m (20 ft)
- Length: 5.41 m (17 ft 9 in)
- Height: 1.94 m (6 ft 4½ in)
- Wing area: 11.61 m² (125.0 sq ft)
- Max level speed: 253 km/h (157 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 245 km/h (152 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 549 m/min (1,800 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,877 m (16,000 ft)
- Range with max fuel: 552 km (343 miles)
- Empty weight: 524 kg (1,155 lb)
- Useful load: 247 kg (545 lb)
- Loaded weight: 771 kg (1,700 lb)
History:
As would be expected, the S-2 was a natural two-seat development of the very popular single-seat S-1 series. The S-2 is slightly larger overall than the S-1, and has increased power, but is still fully aerobatic. The S-1S Special and the S-2 were produced as production aircraft by Pitts Aerobatics of Afton, Wyoming. In production form the two-seater came in two forms, the S-2A Special and the S-2B with a 194 kw (260 hp) Avco Lycoming AEIO-540 six-cylinder engine, the latter being capable of unlimited aerobatics.
The S-2C was modified to make it roll faster and had lighter controls, being able to hold a vertical line longer and pivot on top of a hammerhead without torqueing off. The wings were re-designed and all control surfaces were both aerodynamically and statically balanced. Homebuilt variants are the S-2-E with a 134 kw (180 hp) engine and a fixed pitch propeller; and the S-2A-E similar to the production model. With the 194 kw (260 hp) AIO-540-D4A5 aerobatic fuel injected engine and a fixed pitch propeller, the S-2S has a shortened fuselage, having no second cockpit, and has a max speed of 301 km/h (187 mph) and an initial climb rate of 853 m/min (2,800 ft/min).
The fuselage was constructed of welded chrome molybdenum steel-tube with wooden stringers and formers, and was fabric covered except for the metal top decking and engine cowls. The wings had solid spruce front and rear spars to which were attached wooden ribs, each panel having internal and external wire bracing, and fabric covering. Balanced ailerons were fitted to both upper and lower wings, and there were no flaps. Single faired interplane struts and N-type cabane struts supported the wings. The empennage was a wire-braced welded steel-tube structure, fabric covered. The main undercarriage legs were welded steel, shock absorption being by rubber cords. Eighteen examples appear on the Australian register and seven on the New Zealand register, the latter comprising Models S-2A, S-2B, S-2E and S-2S.
Examples of the Pitts series are still being built around the world. In 1997 Aviat Aircraft, which manufactures the type, built a Limited Edition model of the S-2B to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the first flight of the original Pitts Special, each aircraft having a special white/red/black/gold paint scheme and each being signed by Curtis Pitts. Another variant was the Pitts Model 12 Monster, a two-seat variant with a Soviet-built 269 kw (360 hp) Vedeneyev M-14P radial engine, plans and kits for this model being supplied by Mid America Aircraft of Wichita, Kansas. Kimball Enterprises also built a variant using the same engine, this being known as the Kimball S-12 but is often known as the Pitts S-12.