Pitts S-1 / S-2

Single Piston

The Pitts Special is the iconic American aerobatic biplane that defined unlimited-category competition aerobatics for decades and remains the gold standard for snap rolls, lomcevaks, and knife-edge flight. Designed by Curtis Pitts in the 1940s and continuously refined through single-seat S-1 and two-seat S-2 variants, the Pitts combines a powerful Lycoming engine with an ultra-light airframe and symmetrical airfoil wings to deliver roll rates exceeding 400 degrees per second and sustained inverted flight capability that few aircraft can match. Its compact 17-foot wingspan and positive control harmony at any attitude made it the dominant force in aerobatic contests from the 1960s through the 1980s, with pilots like Bob Herendeen and Clint McHenry flying Pitts Specials to multiple national and world championships. Though modern monoplanes like the Extra 300 and Edge 540 have since claimed the top competitive spots with higher roll rates and cleaner lines, the Pitts remains beloved for its honest handling, forgiving stall characteristics, and the pure stick-and-rudder skill it demands—no computer assists, no composite magic, just steel tube, fabric, and a pilot's hands. The open-cockpit experience and unmistakable radial-cowl silhouette (on Lycoming-powered variants styled to evoke radial heritage) keep the type popular among airshow performers and weekend aerobats who value tradition and raw flying pleasure over the last tenth of a G. SkyMeter has tracked 5 flights across 3 airframes and 3 operators, with SHAW KEVIN the largest observed operator.