G-POPE

G-POPE is a Pitts S-2C, a single-engine piston aircraft. SkyMeter has tracked 20 flights totalling 20 hours of airtime via ADS-B. The most frequent segment is GB-0011 to EGVA. Service window in our records spans 378 days. Of those flights, 2 (10.0%) carry at least one detected incident — go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Pitts S-2C has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,700 lb, light wake category.

About the Pitts S-2C

The Pitts S-2C is a two-seat aerobatic biplane that represents the pinnacle of unlimited competition aerobatics design from the legendary Pitts lineage. Built by Aviat Aircraft (formerly Christen Industries), the S-2C evolved from Curtis Pitts' original 1940s designs and became the weapon of choice for world-class aerobatic competitors through the 1980s and 1990s. Powered by a 260-horsepower Lycoming AEIO-540, the S-2C delivers an extraordinary power-to-weight ratio and roll rates exceeding 360 degrees per second, capabilities that made it a dominant force in International Aerobatic Club competitions and airshow circuits worldwide.

The type's symmetrical airfoil and balanced control harmony allow sustained inverted flight and knife-edge maneuvers that would be impossible in conventional aircraft. With a never-exceed speed of 194 knots and a design load factor of +6/-5 Gs, the S-2C operates in a flight envelope far beyond typical general aviation aircraft. Its distinctive stacked-wing silhouette and fabric-covered steel tube fuselage represent traditional construction methods refined to their absolute limits.

While production ended in the early 2000s as composite aerobatic designs emerged, the S-2C remains highly sought after by serious aerobatic pilots and warbird collectors. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the most frequently observed.