Sean Tucker question

[Tram]

I always thought it was a modded Pitts.. They called it a Pitts all over the place..

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Well....you are both right.

Frank Christensen copied/modified an Pitts S-A and made the Eagle II Kitplane. After Curtiss Pitts almost SUED him, Frank bought out Pitts in the very late 70's. The Eagle Aerobatic Team flew Eagle I's (260HP fixed pitch prop) and Frank set out to design a "Super Eagle/Pitts" with 300HP and swept wings, he never finished it (called the Eagle I-F) and it ended up in a Hangar in Oregon with an old factory employee.

Of course in this time the Pitts S-2B came along and Frank decided not to make the Eagle an FACTORY airplane.

--Anyway back to this "Special Eagle"----

The Fuse was welded up and sitting in this old Hangar along with some wing kits, was for sale but too much $$$$. However it was used to help design Seans new Airplane which has many Eagle features as well as good old Pitts Stuff.

That old Fuselage was sold to Red Eagle Airshows and is flying this season.

Pitts/Eagle-- highly modifed and call it what you want....like Sean "The Challenger II"

 

[mzaharis]

Frank set out to design a "Super Eagle/Pitts" with 300HP and swept wings, he never finished it (called the Eagle I-F) and it ended up in a Hangar in Oregon with an old factory employee.

Is this related to the Pitts S-1-11B, or does that airplane have a different family tree? The link I attached seemed to indicate that it is a completely separate beast, but the specs are similar to what you describe.

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Is this related to the Pitts S-1-11B, or does that airplane have a different family tree? The link I attached seemed to indicate that it is a completely separate beast, but the specs are similar to what you describe.

Different family tree....sort of.

Curtiss designed it around 1995 or so, then they sold kits (outside of the Aviat relm) it was first called the "Super Stinker". Aviat then thought what the heck and bought the rights, modified it a little more...then gave Robert Armstrong a call and asked if he would like to fly it at the World Contest in 1996. Renamed the plane the S-1-11B. Robert was "THE MAN" as far as flying a pitts in competition and did well in Unlimited but the airplane just didn't score well against the Monoplanes.

I have flown the S-1-11B and loved it. However you would DIVE into the box at 220+MPH only to level off and LOSE a ton of speed with all the drag a biplane has...I ended up with an Extra 300S.

The Factory built THREE S-1-11B's only ONE is still flying. Several are kit built, one of which is a friend of mine in the Miami area who won Sun-N-Fun best plans built Biplane, he flies Advanced and does well.

My neigbor has a new Pitts S-2C and I just flew it home for him, I noticed that a lot of the S-1-11B mods went into the S-2C design. I only wish they put a 300+ HP motor on it. (Drag is the killer in Biplanes)

 

[Sonny Crockett]

N11PU was the FIRST S-1-11B. The "N" number was "PU" for Super Stinker.

I flew that airplane, I think the Blackhawk Aerobatic team flew this one and another one for a short time.

 

[mzaharis]

Robert was "THE MAN" as far as flying a pitts in competition and did well in Unlimited but the airplane just didn't score well against the Monoplanes.

Thanks for all that interesting info.

On a slightly related note, were you surprised that Dan Clark was able to qualify for the US Unlimited team this year with a biplane (his "Patriot", which I would guess is a Pitts derivative)?

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Thanks for all that interesting info.

On a slightly related note, were you surprised that Dan Clark was able to qualify for the US Unlimited team this year with a biplane (his "Patriot", which I would guess is a Pitts derivative)?

Not too surprised, long time coming for Dan.

I remember Robert Armstrong flying a FLAT Bottom winged Pitts and making the team in the early 90s'

I hope Dan does well.

 

[Tram]

Sonny - You have any time in the Model 12?

I would cut off a finger for one of those beasts..

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Sonny - You have any time in the Model 12?

I would cut off a finger for one of those beasts..

I have two neighbors with Model 12's...and one neigbor about 50% finished in building his.

Heavy airplane, lots of power, not much of a "Competition" machine, but looks good going by at 220MPH+.....:}

 

[Tram]

Yeh, I'd love to have one..

I will own one before I die..

 

[YankandBank]

What do you mean an 12 is not a good competition airplane? To heavy? I'm flying a Super D now and looking to move up, which means getting out of the Super D. it is heavy bird and I love flying it!! I too would love to get a 12, but of course it would have all of the mods!! If anyone thinks the the 12 sucks, check this out : http://www.2wings.com/m12/images/sn177/images1/102_0014.JPG

See the 12 does have balls!! Look again: http://www.2wings.com/m12/images/sn177/images1/102_0026.JPG

 

[Sonny Crockett]

What do you mean an 12 is not a good competition airplane? To heavy? I'm flying a Super D now and looking to move up, which means getting out of the Super D. it is heavy bird and I love flying it!! I too would love to get a 12, but of course it would have all of the mods!! If anyone thinks the the 12 sucks, check this out : http://www.2wings.com/m12/images/sn177/images1/102_0014.JPG

See the 12 does have balls!! Look again: http://www.2wings.com/m12/images/sn177/images1/102_0026.JPG

I am talking about COMPETITIVE ACRO not airshow flying. Yes to you coming from a Super "D" it would be a world of difference, however comparing it to an Extra/Edge or Sukhoi or lite super Pitts is something else.

I never said the Model 12 sucks. Its a great airplane, if you want a BIG Beast that makes a lot of noise and flys VERY fast for a Biplane of that size.

 

[YankandBank]

There a couple that do compations. I would think it would be no difrent then a Sukio. But yes coming from the smaller Pitts yeah I could see the change. There was some one eles who told me that a 12 wouldn't be a good compation plane, I told them why not it's the pilot not the plane beging judged. It's all about those vertcial lines. Contest are very subjective, I found this out on my first contest when a judge scored me a 4 when the rest gave me 9's. I asked him later why he did this and he said he didn't know and had no answer(no remarks on why too). He then told me no one wins there first contest and asked what I was flying, he then said he didn't like my "D", to new looking!! WTF!!

I'm sure if someone flew the Python it could go to unlimited!!

Sonny, sorry if I came across as personal attack, didn't mean it that way!

 

[Sonny Crockett]

There a couple that do compations. I would think it would be no difrent then a Sukio. But yes coming from the smaller Pitts yeah I could see the change. There was some one eles who told me that a 12 wouldn't be a good compation plane, I told them why not it's the pilot not the plane beging judged. It's all about those vertcial lines. Contest are very subjective, I found this out on my first contest when a judge scored me a 4 when the rest gave me 9's. I asked him later why he did this and he said he didn't know and had no answer(no remarks on why too). He then told me no one wins there first contest and asked what I was flying, he then said he didn't like my "D", to new looking!! WTF!!

I'm sure if someone flew the Python it could go to unlimited!!

Sonny, sorry if I came across as personal attack, didn't mean it that way!

((The Python was damaged in shipping to the UK....sad end to a great airplane, and the Kimballs are TOP NOTCH PEOPLE I know them well.))

No--no problem. I was not trying to Knock the M-12. It IS NOT A Sukhoi! We are talking about different flavors for different folks. (I am Flying an Extra 300S so that is what I compare it too...)

I know all about "da Judges" in IAC.....I had an "out" once and had to PROTEST it, shut down the contest for 15 minutes--everybody pissed off at me, but as my Coach Phil Knight said "You gotta get used to it" anyway--turns out the Judge calling me out has a husband that was flying Advanced as well, so she had an interest in calling the "out" which put me from 1st to 8th! ---I won the protest and the Contest.

Someday when UAL decides I am worth 40% more I will hit the competition circuit hard again!

Enjoy the Super "D" I am sure it is making you into a great stick!