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djpacro Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 3. "RE: Pitts Special " 06-11-03, 12:19z  This is one debate which could go on for another 30 years - its been going that long already. Just to add a few more comments: The transition to a monoplane from a Pitts can take some time - not in terms of handling it but just to get to the stage where a person would score the same in the monoplane as he/she had been doing in the biplane prior to the transition. A Pitts scores pretty well if you fly it pretty well. i.e. you lose some points in the figures. Fly a monoplane pretty well and you lose more points because the judge can see the error so much easier. Fly the Pitts very well and you do a tad better because the judge can't see that you're flying it all that much better. Fly a monoplane very well and its obvious to the judges so, some people say, its worth an extra half a point - but to get that half a point you need to fly it very well and that takes a lot of practice. Pitts are still flown by winners at Advanced level in local contests. Personally, I wouldn't fly the 200 hp S-2A or Eagle at Advanced level these days, too hard on the airplane in my view. I wouldn't worry too much about buying an Eagle - the kit is/was first class and no builder would dare build one that wasn't close to factory standard. All the welding would have been done at the factory. Of course, check it out thoroughly. In my hand I have a magazine article from 1978 comparing the Pitts S-2A and the Eagle - comments by Debbie Gary and Charlie Hillard. Comments in favour of the S-2A: Some comments in favour of the Eagle: better visibility sideways lighter elevator and more responsive snaps 50% betetr than an S-2 two and a half vertical rolls compared to two in the S-2 it is much cleaner ... indicates over 160 in cruise better view of instruments (pilot has to read instruments in front cockpit so I have to disagree with this one) softer landing gear, less maintenance, landings easier All round - they say the Eagle is a 25% better airplane. Regards, Dave Pilkington Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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Subject      Author      Message Date     ID      Pitts Special    Mikie       06-10-03              RE: Pitts Special    TomParsons       06-10-03       1            RE: Pitts Special    Mikie       06-10-03       2                 RE: Pitts Special    TomParsons       06-11-03       4            RE: Pitts Special    djpacro       06-11-03       3         RE: Pitts Special    andy       06-13-03       5            RE: Pitts Special    Mikie       06-14-03       6         RE: Pitts Special    Patty_Wagstaff       06-15-03       7

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