| “The Skybolt is probably the best combination sport/acro plane…” |
| – Budd Davisson (Airbum.com) |
Among four and six cylinder experimental aerobatic biplanes, the Skybolt is clearly the gold standard. The Skybolt is capable of extreme, on-the-edge aerobatics, yet it is polite, predictable and forgiving in the air and on the ground.
There are some 450 Skybolts licensed in the US and another 200 or so around the world. The Skybolt is by far the most popular 2-place experimental biplane, and is loved for its perfect, classic biplane lines.
There is maximum room for pilot and passenger, and the Skybolt is comfortable and practical for cross-country trips and sport flying. Clean, well constructed examples cruise at nearly 180 mph. Skybolts have always been popular on the airshow circuit.
The Skybolt is a straightforward, honest, and absolutely beautiful biplane.
Construction methods are conventional. The truss-rib wing is made of wood, while the fuselage and tail surfaces are welded up from chromoly steel tubing. The Skybolt is extremely strong, and has been thoroughly analyzed for strength – there has never been an in-flight failure attributable to insufficient design strength.
Power options range from 180 hp to 350 hp. Skybolts are built as open-cockpit, two-place canopy, or rear canopy only. It is common to build a convertible configuration which allows change from open to canopy in half an hour.
There are now several model options available to Skybolt builders –
- Skybolt S (Standard)
- Skybolt D (Delta)
In addition, the Skybolt R (Radial) is currently being developed.
- One Piece Upper Wing – The Skybolt S uses the classic Skybolt upper wing and cabane architecture. The upper wing can accommodate a nine-gallon auxiliary fuel tank which is great for cross-country.
- Bungee Landing Gear – Tried and true, bungee shock cord landing gear is reliable and simple.
Skybolt S Options – The Skybolt S can be built with a number of options including the following:
- Powerplant Options – The Skybolt S can be powered by four or six-cylinder engines between 180hp and 350hp. The airplane performs strongly with a typical 260hp O-540.
- Canopy Options – The Skybolt S can be built open cockpit, with a two-place canopy option, or rear-canopy only. Any canopy option can be convertible to open cockpit by constructing a second set of combing incorporating the wind screens. Changing configurations can be done in thirty minutes or less.
- Laminated Wing Spars – Our new laminated spars are much stronger than solid single-piece construction but do not weigh any more.
- Smoke Systems – The Skybolt S can be equipped with an integrated smoke system for airshow work, or just carving your mark in the sky.
- Three-Section Upper Wing – The Skybolt D introduces a new three-section upper wing, designed by aerobatic biplane master Curtis Pitts. This configuration will help the many builders without the space and means to build and transport a single-piece 24 foot wing. The center section can accommodate an eighteen-gallon fuel tank. An existing Skybolt one-piece wing set can be converted with a modest amount of rework. This new design allows higher gross and aerobatic weights.
Skybolt D Options – The Skybolt D can be built with a number of options including the following:
- Powerplant Options – The Skybolt D can be powered by four or six-cylinder engines between 180hp and 350hp. The airplane performs strongly with a typical 260hp O-540.
- Canopy Options – The Skybolt D can be built open cockpit, with a two-place canopy option, or rear-canopy only. Any canopy option can be convertible to open cockpit by constructing a second set of combing incorporating the wind screens. Changing configurations can be done in thirty minutes or less.
- Laminated Wing Spars – Our new laminated spars are much stronger than solid single-piece construction but weigh the same.
- Smoke Systems – The Skybolt D can be equipped with an integrated smoke system for airshow work, or for making your own cloud formations.
- New Fuselage Design – The Skybolt R has a completely new, from-scratch fuselage design by Curtis Pitts which was designed from the outset for the Vendenyev M14P radial (either the 360hp or 400 hp version.) The design features an empty weight of 1500 lbs, 2250 lb gross weight, and Curtis stressed it for the same limit and ultimate loads as he’s used in all of his designs. The weight and balance allows for the oil tank to be placed forward of the firewall. The “classic” Skybolt tail feathers will mount on the new fuselage.
- Three-Piece Upper Wing – The Skybolt R uses the same three-section upper wing design as the Skybolt Delta. This wing was also designed by Mr. Pitts.
Skybolt R Options – The Skybolt R can be built with a number of options including the following:
- Powerplant Options – The Skybolt R can be powered by a 360hp M14P or a 400hp M14PF nine-cylinder radial. It can also be powered by low-boost direct-drive variants of the engine at 260hp for a laid-back classic version. The M14P and PF models can be either electric or air start. (Learn more about the Vendenyev M14P)
- Canopy Options – The Skybolt R can be built open cockpit, with a two-place canopy option, or rear-canopy only. Any canopy option can be convertible to open cockpit by constructing a second set of combing incorporating the wind screens. Changing configurations can be done in thirty minutes or less.
- Laminated Wing Spars – Our new laminated spars are much stronger than solid single-piece construction but weigh the same.
- Smoke Systems – The Skybolt R can be equipped with an integrated smoke system for serious airshow work, or for marking your trail.
Much of the technology introduced in the new Skybolt models are adaptable to earlier Skybolts. Most features can be incorporated into projects already underway or retrofitted onto an existing airplane during rebuild and recovering. The three-section wing option can be installed onto any version, and a quality (one-piece) wing set can be reworked into the three-section wing system. You can also install various canopy types onto these airframes. When you add these features to the options already available for canopies and various engine and equipment options, you can see that the Skybolt is indeed a very versatile airframe.
Plans Availability
Skybolt Plans, Info-Packs, and Enthusiast Items are now available in our Online Store.
“Aerobatics in the Skybolt are just about equal to the Pitts S-2 … Performs aerobatics in a smoother manner than the Pitts.”
by Michael O’Leary
Sport Flying, August 1979
“It [the Skybolt] seemed to have surprising amounts of directional stability… Four of the smoothest, lightest ailerons, much lighter than anticipated. The Pitts’ are a fair amount heavier and a Starduster’s seem set in concrete by contrast… The Skybolt snaps faster than a Pitts S-2 and even better than that it stops where you want it… It spins extremely well… Controllability and pitch stability when inverted was really excellent… The rollout had been disappointingly eneventful considering the crosswind and reputation the little biplanes have.”
by Budd Davisson
Sport Flying, October 1977
“[The Skybolt has] excellent roll rate and good control balance… It was in slow flight that I came to appreciate the airplane… Aerobatics were excellent, what really impressed me was the vertical performance, almost 1000 ft with more than enough time for a vertical roll… The Skybolt lands slow and easy with little tendency to swerve… How does the Skybolt compare with other aerobatic biplanes? The Skybolt is a better airplane all around. It has much better slow speed characteristics and it is truly easy to land. The Skybolt has twice the roll rate of the Decathlon, Starduster II or Great Lakes and you don’t give yourself a hernia to get it.”
by John Conrad
Sport Pilot, December 1989
“The 260hp fixed-pitch Skybolt climbs as fast as my Pitts S1 and is an excellent aerobatic airplane, very light on the controls… Easy to take off and land, one of the smoothest rollouts on landing of any plane I’ve flown… It’s really a fun plane to fly.”
by Dwight Cross
S-1 airshow pilot