Project Gallery
Pitts Special Projects

Here are some of the projects that our customers have been working on. Do you have a plane flying, being restored, or under construction? We’d love to hear about it! Before sending us digital pictures, please read the file submission guidelines first. Then let us know!

BUILDER PROJECTS SKYBOLT / FIREBOLT PROJECTS Andreas Kranz’s German Skybolt Brad Roberson’s Skybolt Seth Fuller’s Modified Skybolt Bret Wills’ Skybolt Project Tom Ferraro’s Skybolt Pete and Mary Zumwalt’s Skybolt Mike Robinson’s Skybolt Project Truman Geouge’s Skybolt Project PITTS SPECIAL PROJECTS Wally Knight’s 4-Aileron Pitts S1-C Project Hugh Russel’s 2/3 scale Pitts Special Simulator Daniel Ryfa’s Swedish Pitts Special S1-C Austin Fox’s Pitts S1-C Project Pitts S1 Racer N1114R Restoration James Shoenberger’s S1-C / S1-SS project Mike Angiulo’s Pitts S1-SS Project Mike Townsley’s Small-Engined Pitts S1-C RELATED AIRCRAFT LaMar Steen’s Original Steenship MODELS KNIGHT TWISTER Harley W. Jetzer’s 1/3 scale R/C Knight Twister PITTS MODEL 14 Melf-Heiko Mast’s Electric Pitts Model 14

Wally Knight’s 4-Aileron Pitts S1-C Project

Wally Knight of Collierville, TN flew his pretty little Pitts S1-C in March 2007. Here’s what Wally said about how this plane came to be:

N13WK is now a real airplane. It is Pitts S1-C with 4 aileron wings, powered by a 160hp 0-320 Lycoming.

I bought this as a partially finished project a little more than 3 years ago. It consisted of a welded fuselage on the gear, wings, tail group and an engine. It had the fabric on but not finished. Just looking at what I bought, I thought I could have it finished in a year. All I need to do is put in a gas tank, some instruments, build an engine mount, buy a few more pieces like a prop, carburetor, flying wires, exhaust and build a cowling and paint it… I was a bit optimistic!

The pieces came from almost everywhere! The project started life in 1977 when a man in Sikeston MO bought a welded fuselage from someone in Chattanooga TN and a partially completed wing kit from Waterloo IA. I am not certain how much work any of the previous owners did. I think the engine was added to the pile of parts by the second owners. It originally was a Piper Cherokee engine but had been used on an airboat in Florida. I found a carburetor in New Jersey, the prop and exhaust pipes in Birmingham AL and the gas tank from Arizona. The starter I found on ebay and the flywheel came from Texas. I needed all the large parts early on so I could weigh everything and determine how long to build the engine mount.

A big unexpected issue was the engine. It was assembled when I bought it and I was led to believe ready to use. But later, I found out it had been “overhauled” by “someone” about 25 years before but never run and had not really been preserved. So I had to take it apart to make sure it was ok and/or fix whatever I found wrong. I found the case had fretting wear and needed major work and that the crankshaft was cracked. I did find that the cylinders had been overhauled and did have new pistons and rings. I had to rebuild both magnetos too. So after a lot more time and money than I had first planned on, I got it back together. I was very happy when it started for the first time last fall.

When I first started this project, I quickly learned how long it actually takes to make an actual part and have it fit and function correctly. I also learned that having a family and full time job does limit the time that can be spent building an airplane. All thru the build process, I kept hoping the Airplane Elves^TM would show up late at night and finish something, any little thing, but they never did! So I was the one who had to make all the bits and pieces.

It is not very pretty right now, just basic white with a red spinner. The spinner is red because it was an old one given to me. I have a canopy and frame that I will add later as well as wheel pants. And then some fancy Pitts paint scheme.

So the plane is finally flyable. A friend who has a Pitts similar to it made the first flight March 24 (2007) and it went well, just a little high oil and cylinder head temp problem that I am working on by opening the cowl outlet a bit.

Now I have to learn how to fly it!

Regards,

Wally Knight

Actually, Wally, we really like the simple paint scheme… it’s different… and somehow, despite the simplicity of the paint scheme (or maybe because of it) it seems to really highlight the simple elegance of the Pitts design and the fine craftsmanship put into your plane… it just looks “right”. The last photo actually looks a lot like the very first Pitts Special from 1945!

Hugh Russel’s 2/3 scale Pitts Special Simulator

Every now and then, we’re really blown away by someone doing something really “out there” or off the beaten path. Hugh Russel of Ontario, Canada has a “Pitts” project that certainly falls into that category. We’ll let him explain it:

I am working on a project for my grandchildren using your plans for the Pitts S1 (I purchased them from you a couple of years ago) and converting the scale to 2/3. Using mostly light long grain wood and aircraft quality birch plywood and a few machined steel and brass elements, I have created the parts as near as I can to the real thing. Scaling down the dimensions by ‘dimension x .66’. It works for the most part but there are parts which are more guess and make fit than spec. The object is to have a ‘special exotic’ toy simulator with which to introduce our new generation to the joys of flight. It will be mounted on a table base which will have servos controlled by a flight simulator program integrated into the controls in the model. There will be moderate movement in pitch, yaw and roll that will enhance the power of their fertile imaginations. When I was a small boy I used to dream of building such a plane for myself and the simple idea kept me going for hours of day dreaming. My hope is that my grandkids will be able to take their dreams to a higher level. I will be needing some parts which I can not reasonably make in my studio – clevis terminals, streamline tie rods and drag wire. I hope you can provide these things if I provide the measurements. Of course pictures will tell the tale so I will include a few. Yours truly, Hugh Russel…

Wow… all we can say is that those are some VERY privileged grandkids!

Daniel Ryfa’s Swedish Pitts Special S1-C

Daniel Ryfa is the proud owner of this beautiful S1-C, which is believed to be the only one now flying in Sweden (and possibly in all of Scandinavia… the only other Pitts aircraft in Sweden are three S1-S’s, one S2-B, and an S2-A.) Daniel rebuilt this plane, which was originally built in Wisconsin in the late 1960s. Power for SE-XIK comes from a Lycoming O-360-A4A that came from a Piper Archer II. Daniel converted it to an IO-360 with a Bendix RSA5, and then installed new cylinders, pistons, rings, gaskets, and a conrod from Zephyr Engines here in Florida. Daniel is happy with this strong-running motor. The GT wood-composite prop is a 76-56 with a fiberglass spinner from Van’s Aircraft. Daniel feels that he could go up a bit in prop pitch. Daniel has a friend who’s now restoring a Skybolt… we’re looking forward to some formation photos! That sure is a nice-looking plane, Daniel… keep up the great work!

Austin Fox’s Pitts S1-C Project

Here’s a great project… Austin Fox of Tempe, Arizona, is fifteen years old and is already well into the process of building a Pitts S1-C! The fuselage is welded and on the gear, while the top wing is complete except for the leading edge sheeting. One bottom wing is complete (except for the ailerons) and he is currently working on the ribs for the second bottom wing. Austin plans to finish the plane within the next two years using the S1-C wings, then once it is flying, build a set of S1-SS symmetrical wings.

Great job, Austin… we’re really looking forward to seeing this plane fly. Keep up the great work!

Pitts S1 Racer N1114R Restoration

Al Owen in Hilliard, FL (birthplace of the Pitts Special) has informed us of a neat S1 project… we intend to keep you updated with its progress. Here is what Al said about it:

Hi,

I thought that I would pass along a little information that you might find interesting. In 1967, four close friends of Curtis Pitts joined together to build a Pitts S-1 strictly for racing. Some of the names you are probably familiar with. L.J. “Skeeter” Royall, John W. Owen, Don Lovern and Pat Ledford formed the ROLL club and built a modified S-1, N1114R.

They raced the Pitts from 1967 to 1974 when it was retired and sold to Mr. Ulad Marsh, who worked for National Airlines also.

The ROLL club, with Skeeter Royall raced the aircraft in many of the National events and set a national record of 179.95 mph on February 16, 1969 in Ft. Lauderdale.

Some of the mods were: 2 aileron semetrical wings, redesigned aileron control system which allowed them to remove the “pot” from the belly of the aircraft, wrap around plexiglass windscreen which enclosed the forward cabane strut to the rear of the cockpit. A longer fiberglass cowling with a prop extension was also used to enhance the aerodynamic profile. The original powerplant was an O-290, but was soon modified by using O-360 cylinders and 2 – PS5 carbs, one carb for each bank of cylinders.

Most of this information, along with several pictures can be found in the book “Racing Planes and Air Races, Book 2, 1968-1971” written by Reed Kinert.

When the aircraft was sold to Ulad Marsh, he continued to fly it out of Homestead untill 1978, when he decided to recover it. He disassembled N1114R and transported it to his home. He initally started by recovering the lower wings, but soon lost interest and put it away. It has been in storage in his house and garage for 25 years. Over the years, having kept in touch with the family friend, Don Lovern, I continued to inquire about buying the unrestored airplane from Ulad Marsh to get it back into our family. In March of 2003, Don called and informed me that Ulad had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had agreed to sell the airplane. Having a family tie to it, Ulad gave us first shot at it. My response was when can we pick it up, even before a price was set.

My oldest brother, Bryan and I drove to Miami, rented a U-Haul truck and along with Don Lovern’s help, loaded the Pitts and started home. We live just north of Jacksonville in Hilliard FL (01J) and made the 700+ mile trip in one long day….

We plan to stat the restoration soon and hope to have it ready by Sun-n-Fun 2005. I noticed the picture gallery on your web-site. We will be keeping a pictoral diary of the restoration and will gladly share them with you if you are interested. I will also attach a picture [see above – ed] of the aircraft from 1967 when it was first test flown. I have other pictures which I am taking to catalog to make the rebuild easier. We don’t have the original plans with the mods that were made, so we’ll just have document as best we can.

As another point of interest, my other brother, Kem, who lives just east of us in Yulee, FL is building a Skybolt. It’s about 80%, with the fusalage finished and the wings are ready for cover. Maybe we can get both to Sun-n-Fun 2005…

We are part of the “Hilliard Bunch” – Al, Bryan and Kem Owen

Regards,

Al Owen
Hilliard, FL

James Shoenberger’s S1-C / S1-SS project

We first met James Shoenberger when he flew into Sun ‘N Fun 2003, and were instantly in love with his Pitts S1-C painted up like a Curtiss Hawk. James flies F/A-18’s for a living, and bought this S1-C for fun. He told us that his first competition taught him that even though the government may trust him to fly one of their most advanced jet fighters, sportsman aerobatic competition is a completely different ballgame. “In a jet, you generally want to fly smooth, big manuevers. That just didn’t work well in my first sportman competition… they basically handed me my rear on a plate!” he laughed. He assured us that he was having a ball learning the new flying style, and he is looking forward to the challenge of competition. While he didn’t build this plane originally, James is currently building a new set of S1-SS “Super Stinker” wings to install to enhance the aerobatic performance. We look forward to hearing about his progress!

Mike Angiulo’s Pitts S1-SS Project

Mike Angiulo is a really nice guy who is working on a Pitts S1-SS (not to mention that he already has an S-2B and is looking for an S1-S to race with) – he says “I love these airplanes [Pitts Specials] and will probably have and fly one forever.” You can tell Mike is having a lot of fun! Check out his Website.

Mike Townsley’s Small-Engined Pitts S1-C

When Pastor Mike Townsley read about the replica of the first Pitts Special which flew quite well on only 65 horsepower, he knew that he wanted to build one much like it. Mike is building an S1-C that will have a 65-85hp Continental motor up front… “I don’t want a flying missile,” he says. He plans to keep it light by only including basic instrumentation and not installing an electrical system… keeping it simple is often the best way to go!