Bye Bye "B" hello S-2C!!!

The Pitts S-2B has been and still is a wonderful airplane. Aviat Aircraft, Inc. has produced the S-2B faithfully since the early 1980's. As the sport of aerobatics advanced the S-2B didn't. 

Stu Horn confident that the Pitts could be brought up to the demands of today's aerobatics, combined Curtis Pitts and his team at Aviat Aircraft, Inc.
to produce the new Pitts S-2C.

Don't let the seemingly subtle changes fool you, this is a new breed of Pitts Specials.

New wings, inside and out, sporting balanced ailerons that have no spades, but more importantly, "constant speed ailerons", meaning that the rate of
roll in the S-2C is essentially as fast at 100 mph as it is at 200 mph. Maximum stick force pressure at full aileron deflection is a mere 15 pounds.
Stick centering is world class, and hammering out precision point rolls at any speed is a piece of cake.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the rate of roll is 300+ degrees per second.

New vertical and horizontal tails that are aerodynamically counter-balanced, no more boost tabs on the elevators, this makes the airplane truly
symmetrical. "What do you mean", you say? The S-2B requires a lot more forward stick pressure in outside maneuvers than aft stick pressures in
positive maneuvers. In the S-2C the elevator stick pressures are only 15 pounds at 4 g's both directions. Therefore outside maneuvers are a snap in
the S-2C. Speaking of snaps, the S-2C snap rolls as crisp outside as it does inside snaps, thanks to the new tail. 

What we're talking about is a "squared stick", an airplane that's willing to go any direction you desire, without kicking or screaming. 

The rudder pedal forces are also lighter and well harmonized with the stick forces, making the new S-2C a true extension of one's self.

Spins in the S-2C are awesome, mild or wild, you decide. 

Hammerheads are a absolute joy in the S-2C. The pivot is definitely a "10", the problem of torqueing off the top in a S-2B is gone. Keep the rudder
in and you'll get a double hammerhead. This isn't your daddy's Pitts Special.

The S-2C takes a lot of the work out of Rollers, and no longer require hard pushes because of the new balanced elevators. Roll rate control is easy
due to the new ailerons, and keeping the nose coming around when transitioning from one roll to the next is no problem with the lighter rudder
forces. 

Vertical performance is fantastic, hang time at the top is great with the "Claw" aerobatic propeller, by Hartzell. Vertical 4 point, 8 point, multiple
vertical rolls, vertical snap rolls, multiple vertical snaps, both inside and outside, are all possible. 

Better vertical performance meaning better climb performance as well. The Pitts S-2C climbs 2900 fpm. This increase is mostly due to the increased
wing area, drag reduction, and the "Claw" aerobatic propeller, by Hartzell.

Tumbles, and gyroscopic type maneuvers are sensational, you won't find a better tumbling airplane at any price.

On the milder side of life the S-2C is aerodynamically cleaner, improved wing tip shape, straighten fuselage belly, improved engine cowling, and new
sloped windshield, improves cruise speed over the S-2B by approximately 10 to 15 mph. 

The trim tab is now only on the right elevator and acts purely as a trim tab, not a boost / trim tab. This makes the elevator more effective during
maneuvering. Trim the S-2C for level flight, roll inverted and you'll be surprised that the forward stick pressure required for inverted flight is minimal,
totally unlike the S-2B which requires healthy forward stick pressure to maintain proper nose position. 

There's no more need to worry half way through your flight about landings, the Pitts S-2C and the runway now meet on friendly terms, The S-2C
with it's added wing area, improved wing tips, new tail surfaces, new landing gear, new windshield, and flat fuselage belly, crosses the numbers
slower, "locks in the groove" while in ground effect, and touches down slower than the S-2B , roll outs are straight and require only normal tail wheel
proficiency.

All this sounds to good to be true? Well, strap it on for yourself, the Pitts S-2C will be at a IAC meeting near you. Stay tuned for details.

For you number nuts, here's a preliminary release: 

     Base Price: $165,000.00 
     Price as tested: $182,500 

Specifications: 

     Powerplant Lycoming AEIO-540,260 HP Recommended TBO 1,200 hr 
     Propeller: The "Claw" three-blade aerobatic composite constant speed, by Hartzell 
     Length: 17 ft 9 in 
     Height: 6 ft 5 in 
     Wingspan: 20 ft 
     Wing area sq ft: 127.5 
     Wing Loading Normal 13.3 lbs 12.7 lbs aerobatic 
     Power Loading Normal 6.59 lbs 6.25 lbs aerobatic 
     Seats: 2 in tandem 
     Cabin length 6 ft 11 in 
     Cabin width 2 ft 4 in 
     Empty Weight as tested 1155 
     Maximum gross weight 1700 lbs 
     Useful load, as tested 
          Aerobatic 470 lbs. 
          Normal 545 lbs. 
     Payload w/full fuel, as tested 371 lbs. 
     Max takeoff weight 1700 lbs 
     Max landing weight 1700 lbs 
     Fuel capacity 
          (w/5-gal wing tank) 29 gal (28 gal usable) 
          Aerobatic flight, 24 gal (23 gal usable) 

Performance 

     Aerobatic flight load limits +6 G, -5 G 
     Rate of climb 2900 ft/min 
     Takeoff distance, ground roll 554 
     Takeoff distance over 50-ft obstacle 860 
     Max demonstrated crosswind component 17 kt 
     Rate of climb, sea level fpm 2900 Min fly weight 
     Max level speed 168 kts 
     Cruise speed w/30 min rsv: 
          55% power 147 kts 
          65% power 150 kts 
          75% power 157 kts 
     Range w/ 30 min rsv: 
          55% power 346 st. miles 
          65% power 316 st. miles 
          75% power 284 st. miles 
     Max operating altitude N/A 
     Service ceiling N/A 
     Landing distance over 50-ft obstacle 1200 ft. 
     Landing distance, ground roll 750 ft. 

Limiting and Recommended airspeeds 

     VX (best angle of climb) KIAS N/A at this time 
     VY (best rate of climb) KIAS 82 
     VA (Design maneuvering) KIAS 134 
     VNO (max structural cruising) KIAS 134 
     VNE (never exceed) KIAS 185 
     VS1 (Stall, clean) KIAS 56 

All specifications are based on manufacturer's calculations. All performance figures are based on standard day, standard atmosphere, sea level,
gross weight conditions unless otherwise noted.


Do not make any changes without the authors permission!!!

Happy flying!

Mikko Maliniemi
mmniemi@hotmail.com

M.M.Niemi's FS98 Planes
http://gamma.nic.fi/~mmniemi/fsplanes

Textures based on Tom Eads's S-2C textures.
