Pitts - what's the catch?
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Massachusetts Bay Colony
Age: 57
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm with Tigerbatics on this one, Ed. For everything except inverted work, the S-1D flat-bottomed wing is superior. It's a faster, lower-drag airfoil, accelerates well, carries its energy well, and has more than enough roll rate to do the job. At Advanced where inverted work becomes more significant, the S-1S wing may be better, but then the fixed-pitch prop is going to be your limiting factor, which is why the S-1T was designed. The -D is actually a superior wing, it's just not optimal for inverted aerobatics.
Pitts2112
Pitts2112
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bracknell, UK
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The inverted regime starts to become significant at Intermediate, I'd say - Advanced then become a memory test.
However, I know of only one S1-D that regularly competes in the UK - when its not catching fire, fallling off both sides of the runway at Conington, or head-butting the turf at Sandown...
However, I know of only one S1-D that regularly competes in the UK - when its not catching fire, fallling off both sides of the runway at Conington, or head-butting the turf at Sandown...
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: A place with no name
Age: 46
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not on...
Look this rubbish has GOT to stop. 
Here I am sitting reading all this stuff about the Pitts - an aircraft that I would dearly love to fly. More and more comments are being made that make me want to fly one - not tomorrow.. now. Even moreso, I am sitting here with my cheque book open searching through the web to buy one!
Here I am sitting reading all this stuff about the Pitts - an aircraft that I would dearly love to fly. More and more comments are being made that make me want to fly one - not tomorrow.. now. Even moreso, I am sitting here with my cheque book open searching through the web to buy one!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Here and there. Here at the moment but soon I'll be there.
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't know anything about Pitts, but I have flown a PA32 with an approach speed of 90kias, so 87 doesn't strike me as making this a 'hot ship', although others have mentioned factors, e.g. sink rate, that would be unusual for a spamcan driver.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Anglia
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
searching through the web to buy one!
http://www.aerobatics.org.uk/aircraft+eqpt-for-sale.htm
Lots of people fly Pitts for 2-3 yrs at Beginners, Std and intermediate. Have a great time and then if they're really serious buy something more serious.
I agree they're a lot of aerobatic aircraft for the money, however the cheaper ones are generally less capable so you may outgrow them quicker. Just something to think about when looking around.
Most of the single seaters are on PFA permits so you can do much of the work yourself and also make your own bits/modifications (subject to approval).
ZA
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bracknell, UK
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Flyingcircusace
But a Pitts, fly it, get it out of your system. Then build a Monoplane.
Went out to fly the 2008 Intermediate Known today, only to be met by AC, who tells me the one that was published yesterday is the wrong version - the final figure has been redesigned. Not that I got the chance to try it - the weather turned a bit too murky, so I just footled about with a few rollers and flicks - Lord knows, I need the practise. Still, a mediocre day in a Pitts - any Pitts - is better than a good day at the office.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Age: 61
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BRL - I have a 2- seat Pitts S-2 available for training, private hire and competition....in Sydney.
If you can get here I'll give you a ride myself. You see it's a great combination - sunshine and aerobatics. Makes a great holiday.
PM me for more details.
If you can get here I'll give you a ride myself. You see it's a great combination - sunshine and aerobatics. Makes a great holiday.
PM me for more details.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Anglia
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Went out to fly the 2008 Intermediate Known today, only to be met by AC, who tells me the one that was published yesterday is the wrong version - the final figure has been redesigned.
Also the Cuban eight with all the rolls goes on forever. Can just see the judges subtracting one point at a time for quite a long time...no 10's on that one, and its got a K of 33.
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bracknell, UK
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, but I'm not sure when the correct one will be posted.
Anyway - not a factor for you...you're doing Advanced in 08...in an Eagle - but I think you'll have the edge over Lucky, in his Jodel D9...
Anyway - not a factor for you...you're doing Advanced in 08...in an Eagle - but I think you'll have the edge over Lucky, in his Jodel D9...
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: England
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Apologies for the thread creep (so I'll start by saying I love Pittses and if even I can check out on an S2, then you definitely don't have to be a sky god to fly them!!!), but do you guys know if the standard 2008 sequence has been published yet? I looked on the website but can't find any 2008 sequences.....??
WP.
WP.
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bracknell, UK
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Start into wind.
1) Loop
2) 45 degree up line
3) 1 1/2 turn spin
4) Reverse half cuban, 2 point roll at exit
5) P-Loop (45 down line at exit, finish level)
6) Roll-off-the top
7) 90 degree turn (cross-box)
8) 270 degree turn (upwind)
9) 45 degree down line
10) Stall turn, 45 degree down line after vertical down line, finish level.
11) Half cuban.
1) Loop
2) 45 degree up line
3) 1 1/2 turn spin
4) Reverse half cuban, 2 point roll at exit
5) P-Loop (45 down line at exit, finish level)
6) Roll-off-the top
7) 90 degree turn (cross-box)
8) 270 degree turn (upwind)
9) 45 degree down line
10) Stall turn, 45 degree down line after vertical down line, finish level.
11) Half cuban.
"So why are Pitts Special's so cheap? A friend of mine said he saw one the other day for £20k. Thats Cesspit money. And I'm staring at an ad for an S1S with only 65 airframe hours on sale for £30k. There must be a catch surely?"
JBGA - Get your cheque book out and buy an Eagle :
faster
more room
easier to land
cheaper to run
has a heater
I happen to know of 2 for sale here in The UK on PFA permits
JBGA - Get your cheque book out and buy an Eagle :
faster
more room
easier to land
cheaper to run
has a heater
I happen to know of 2 for sale here in The UK on PFA permits