Pitts S1D
Photos of the Pitts S1S under construction progress and comments to follow:
Photographed by Ashley Hoyland January 2001 - definitely not almost ready to fly.
The fuselage was jig built but the rest is down to Clive. The attention to detail and workmanship must surely make this one of the best around. Anybody got an suitable engine stored under their bench please let Clive know.
The top wingspan is (should be ) 17feet 3 inches and the fuselage length is just over fifteen feet so its not a big aeroplane, the finished weight should be around 800lbs if I am lucky but most Pitts with starter, alternator, battery and radio etc turn out around 850 lbs or so I am told, the m.a.u.w is 1150 lbs so obviously, like a model the lighter the better.
With a Lycoming IO360 of 180 hp or possibly 200hp if I can find one the performance is staggering and its not that long ago that Pitts were competing and winning at the World Championships . Many Pitts do still compete but are outperformed now by the new generation of composite monoplanes.
Of the wings in the photo the spars are sitka spruce, the ribs are routed from resorcinol bonded birch ply with other items like the fillets made from Douglas fir (because its easier to obtain and slightly cheaper than spruce although it is slightly heavier) the pull blocks that will house the drag and anti drag wires are made from American ash. I have not used any pins or nails in the construction and everything is clamped and glued with 'Aerodux' a two part epoxy ( I think).
I will keep you posted of my progress but as you know it is a slow process, If I can possibly finish all the wings and get them covered by the end of the year I will be very happy.
I keep charging the models up and you never know I might actually come and fly them if I can drag myself away from the garage/workshop.