Pitts Model 12
Factory-built Pitts 12S
Role Biplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer 92nd West Aviation
Designer Curtis Pitts
First flight March 1996
Number built 59 (2011)[1]
"The Beast" Model 12

The Pitts Model 12 (also known by its nicknames "Bolshoi", "Macho Stinker", "Pitts Monster"[2]) is a high performance aerobatic biplane designed around the Vedeneyev M14P/PF engine. The aircraft can be built from plans or as a kitplane, or can be bought ready-to-fly from the factory.[3]

Design and development

The Pitts model 12 was designed by Curtis Pitts starting in 1993. Pitts presented his completed design on his 80th birthday in December 1995.[4]

The Pitts Model 12 is a biplane built using fabric covered welded steel tubing for the fuselage, and fabric covered wings with wood spars. The leading edge is made of formed plywood. The landing gear is solid aluminum.

Operational history

As of December 2011, 59 examples had been completed and flown.[1]

Variants

There are several model variants:

Specifications (Pitts Model 12)

Data from Pitts model 12.com

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. ^ a b Vandermeullen, Richard (December 2011). "2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide". Kitplanes. Vol. 28, no. 12. Belvoir Publications. p. 58. ISSN 0891-1851.
  2. ^ Purdy, Don, ed. (1998). AeroCrafter: Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook (5th ed.). BAI Communications. p. 207. ISBN 0963640941.
  3. ^ Kitplanes. Belvoir Publications. June 2004. ISSN 0891-1851. ((cite magazine)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "History". Pitts Model 12. Jim Kimball Enterprises. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  5. ^ "The Biplane". The Beast. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.

External links

Media related to Pitts Model 12 at Wikimedia Commons

Aircraft designed by Curtis Pitts
Aerobatics
Categories