Pitts S-1

Single Piston

The Pitts S-1 Special is the aircraft that launched modern aerobatic aviation. Designed by Curtis Pitts in 1944 and first flown the following year, this tiny single-seat biplane revolutionized competitive aerobatics with its unprecedented roll rate and snappy handling. At a time when aerobatic pilots were flying modified trainers and surplus military aircraft, the S-1 was purpose-built from the ground up for unlimited aerobatics, featuring a compact 17-foot wingspan, symmetrical airfoil, and a power-to-weight ratio that made sustained inverted flight and snap rolls effortless. Betty Skelton flew an S-1 to win the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship in 1948, 1949, and 1950, cementing the design's reputation. The S-1 remains a homebuilt favorite, with plans available since the 1960s and hundreds constructed by amateur builders worldwide. Most examples are powered by 180-200 horsepower Lycoming engines, giving the 1,150-pound aircraft a climb rate exceeding 2,500 feet per minute and the ability to sustain roll rates over 360 degrees per second. The design spawned an entire family of Pitts biplanes, including the two-seat S-2 and factory-built models from Aviat Aircraft, but the original S-1 remains the purest expression of Curtis Pitts' vision: a minimalist flying machine optimized for one thing only. SkyMeter has tracked 8 flights across 4 airframes and 4 operators, with RHODES STEVEN D, RHODES KASSIDY M the largest observed operator.