Curtis Pitts has "Gone West"

usakrofolk.com ^ | 06/10/05 | Dashing Dasher

[Dashing Dasher]

Curtis Pitts, the legendary designer of the Pitts Special, has died today.

A brief biography, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the Pitts Special.

The Pitts Special is part of American aviation history. An early Pitts Special airplane is in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Pitts Special airplanes are also in the Experimental Aviation Association Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin as well as the British Museum in London and many other aviation museums around the world.

The Pitts Special was designed by Curtis Pitts and is acknowledged as the worlds leading competition aerobatic and airshow display airplane. The Pitts Special has won more aerobatic competitions than any other airplane in history. It is the only fully FAA Certified competition airplane made in America and one of the very few which are manufactured in the world.

Curtis Pitts, a truly legendary aircraft designer, celebrated his 89th birthday on Dec. 9, 2004, and was busy working on the prototype of the new Pitts Model 14, a brand-new, 2-seat aerobatic biplane powered by the 400hp Vendenyev radial engine. The Model 14 is designed for unlimited aerobatics.

[Dashing Dasher]

In 1990, a group of aerobatic pilots from all over the world gathered in Florida to help Curtis Pitts celebrate his birthday. Here's what they had to say about his contribution to aerobatics:

Curtis didn't invent aerobatics. He didn't invent biplanes. He didn't invent the concept of small planes with big engines. He did, however, re-invent all of those factors and mold them into the image we now know as modern aerobatics. He and his little airplanes completely rewrote the aerobatic history books and opened the world of serious aerobatics and pure high performance to the masses. As a result of his efforts, an individual with dedication and a yearning for the third dimension could take a roll of drawings and convert them into a rag and tube ball of lightning that would never fail to take their breath away.

There's a sticker that you'll often see on the flight bags and airplanes of aerobatic pilots that says, "A Pitts is something special." And that doesn’t just refer to the airplane.

[Dashing Dasher]

FLYING WEST

I hope there's a place, way up in the sky
Where pilots can go when they have to die.
A place where a guy could buy a cold beer
For a friend and a comrade whose memory is dear.
A place where no doctor or lawyer could tread,
Nor a management-type would e'ler be caught dead!
Just a quaint little place, kind of dark, full of smoke,
Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke.
The kind of a place that a lady could go
And feel safe and secure by the men she would know.

There must be a place where old pilots go,
When their wings become heavy, when their airspeed gets low,
Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young,
And songs about flying and dying are sung.
Where you'd see all the fellows who'd 'flown west' before,
And they'd call out your name, as you came through the door,
Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad,
And relate to the others, "He was quite a good lad!"

And there, through the mist, you'd spot an old guy
You had not seen in years, though he'd taught you to fly.
He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear
And say, "Welcome, my Son, I'm proud that you're here!
For this is the place where true flyers come
When the battles are over, and the wars have been won.
They've come here at last, to be safe and alone,
From the government clerk, and the management clone;
Politicians and lawyers, the Feds, and the noise,
Where all hours are happy, and these good ol' boys
Can relax with a cool one, and a well deserved rest!
This is Heaven, my Son. You've passed your last test!"

— Captain Michael J. Larkin, TWA (Ret.), 'Air Line Pilot' magazine, February 1995.

[Dashing Dasher]

Dasher's Baby...

[Aeronaut]

[hattend]

Just Damn

Blue Skies Forever, Curtis.

[GBA]

God bless you Curtis Pitts! The world is a better place because of you. Nothing stinky about your airplanes!

[Dashing Dasher]

Althought they are a biotch to land...

LOL!!!

I was just talking to some other Pitts Drivers, and we all wanted to meet him or have him sign our planes or something...

I guess we waited too long....

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks for posting.... May he rest in peace. Normally I'd pray he keeps the rubber side down, but it his case, he can point it where ever he wants ;~D

Yours is a gorgeous plane.

[Dashing Dasher]

Thank you...

[hattend]

How close to a Pitts is a Mong? Whatever happened to Pattiy Johnson and "Full Tilt Boogie"? (I'm slooooowly building an R/C model of FTB)

[Veloxherc]

I never have owned a Pitts for him to sign, but I have flown them.

I had the great pleasure of meeting him a few times. He was always friendly and a very nice guy. I even visited his shop when they were putting together the first pits model 12 (at least I think it was the 12).

Great guy he will be missed.

[Central Scrutiniser]

A great plane, it could do just about anything.

[Dashing Dasher]

I don't know much about the history of the Mong.
It's faster, smaller, and lighter than the Pitts. But - it's not a good akro plane.

There aren't many of them flying these days.... We probably have two or three in the Bipe Class left.

I'd love to see pix of your FTB Model when you get a chance.

[Dashing Dasher]

A great plane, it could do just about anything.

Except tow banners and drop parachuters jumpers..... and bring enough luggage for more than three days.... ;-)

[hattend]

I'd love to see pix of your FTB Model when you get a chance.

It'll be a while, I just have the vertical and horizontal stabs done then the whole thing was put away because I went on to other projects. I was afraid to get the plane done since it would be hard to ship when I leave here in a couple of years. It'll be years before I get it done.

[Dashing Dasher]

Okay!

[Dashing Dasher]

I'm so jealous that you actually got to hang with the man.

Pix of the Model 12...

Curtis was working on the Model 14 before he died.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Yeah, but I'd love it if Patty Wagstaff would give me a ride in her Extra 300S. I met her a few times when I was recruiting at the Women in Aviation conventions, she rocks. I have a friend who is an aviation writer that used to go flying with her, said she is amazing.

[Dashing Dasher]

When I first started flying competitively - Patty and I were "penpals". If I had a question or a problem, she was always there with a helpful answer. I've never met her in person - but feel like I know her.

She's awesome.

dd

[AK2KX]

What a loss. Of course, at 89 -- what a life!

I've had my eye on plans for a S-1-11 Super Stinker for a while now...

Thank you Curtis!