Pitts Model 12
American aerobatic aircraft
The Pitts Model 12 (also known by its nicknames "Bolshoi," "Macho Stinker," and "Pitts Monster") is a high-performance aerobatic biplane designed around the Vedeneyev M14P/PF radial engine. The aircraft can be built from plans or as a kitplane, or bought ready-to-fly from the factory.
01Design 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.
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.
02Operational history
As of December 2011, 59 examples had been completed and flown.
03Variants
There are several model variants:
- Plans built
- HP model - kit
- Model 12S - factory built
- A single-place variant called "The Beast" constructed by Jim Kimball
04Specifications (Pitts Model 12)
Data from Pitts model 12.com
General characteristics
- Capacity: 2
- Length: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
- Wingspan: 23 ft (7.0 m)
- Empty weight: 1,550 lb (703 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,250 lb (1,021 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 54 gal
- Powerplant: 1 × Vedeneyev M14P/PF , 360 hp (270 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed MT Propeller
Performance
- Cruise speed: 150 kn (170 mph, 270 km/h)
- Stall speed: 56 kn (64 mph, 103 km/h)
- Range: 430 nmi (500 mi, 800 km)
- Rate of climb: 2,900 ft/min (15 m/s)
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Pitts Model 12”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Pitts 12S Python, Private JP7640684.jpg by Fabrizio Berni, GFDL
- Pitts Model 12 The Beast.jpg by FlugKerl2, CC BY-SA 3.0
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