AUGUST 2020 OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB SO, YOU WANT TO BUY A PITTS? TALE OF TWO LLCS AIRCRAFT OWNERSHIPINDIVIDUAL OR GROUP? B:8.125” T:7.875” S:7.375” CGI image. Pre-production models shown. B:10.75” T:10.5” S:10” 2-DOOR 4-DOOR SPORT RESERVE YOURS NOW AT FORD.COM DOC. NAME: FMBR0151000_Bronco_SportAerobatics_Manifesto_10.75x7.875_01.indd LAST MOD.: 6-22-2020 5:51 PM CLIENT: FORD ECD: Karl Lieberman BLEED: 10.75” H x 8.125” W DOC PATH: Macintosh HD:Users:nathandalessandro:Desktop:FRDNSUVK0158_Bronco_Manifesto_Print:FMBR0151000_ Bronco_SportAerobatics_Manifesto_10.75x7.875_01.indd CAMPAIGN: Bronco Reveal CD: Stuart Jennings & Eric Helin TRIM: 10.5” H x 7.875” W FONTS: Ford Antenna Cond (Regular; OpenType) BILLING #: FRDNSUVK0158 CW: None VIEWING: 10.5” H x 7.875” W COLORS: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black MEDIA: Print AD: Alex McClelland SAFETY: 10” H x 7.375” W EXECUTION: Manifesto – Sport Aerobatics AC: Jamie Robinson, Mac Hall SCALE: 1” = 1” SD: Nathan Dalessandro FINAL TRIM: 10.5” H x 7.875” W PD: Ashley Mehall PRINT SCALE: None IMAGES: FRDNSUVK0158_Bronco_silhouette_family_V2_09_Flipped_CMYK.tif (914 ppi; CMYK; Users:nathandalessandro:Desktop:FRDNSUVK0158_Bronco_silhouette_family_V2_09_Flipped_CMYK.tif; Up to Date; 32.81%) Bronco_BW_Stacked_KO_wk.eps (Users:nathandalessandro:Desktop:BRONCO_ASSETS:_Bronco_LogoPack:Bronco_BW_Stacked_KO_wk.eps; Up to Date; 38.25%) EAA_PartnerRecognition_Rv_PK.eps (Creative:FORD:~Ford_MasterArt:2019:Outsourced:Originals:EAA_Logo:EAA_PartnerRecognition_Rv_PK.eps; Up to Date; 23.79%) BFP_OOH_PRINT_WHITE_KO.eps (Creative:WK_LOGOS:FORD_wk:_Built_Ford_Proud:OOH_PRINT:BFP_OOH_PRINT_WHITE_KO.eps; Up to Date; 43.28%) Vol. 49 No. 8 / AUGUST 2020 A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB Publisher: Robert Armstrong, [email protected] Executive Director: Stephen Kurtzahn, [email protected], 920-426-6574 Editor: Lorrie Penner, [email protected] Contributing Authors: Robert Armstrong, Lynn Bowes, Budd Davisson, Lawrence V. Drake, Mike Heuer, Zinnia Kilkenny, Bruce Mamont, Gordon Penner, Lorrie Penner Senior Copy Editor: Colleen Walsh Copy Editor: Bryant Shiu Proofreader: Meghan Plummer Graphic Designer: Cordell Walker IAC CORRESPONDENCE International Aerobatic Club, P.O. Box 3086 Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 Tel: 920-426-6574 • Fax: 920-426-6579 Email: [email protected] ADVERTISING CONTENTS Advertising Manager: Sue Anderson, [email protected] MAILING FEATURES Change of address, lost or damaged magazines, back issues. EAA-IAC Membership Services Tel: 800-843-3612 • Fax: 920-426-6761 8 SO, YOU WANNA BUY A PITTS? Email: [email protected] Part 2: The two-place birds by Budd Davisson 14 IAC 50TH ANNIVERSARY PANELS 24 THE TALE OF 2 LLCS, PART 1 EAA® and SPORT AVIATION®, the EAA Logo® and Aeronautica™ are registered trademarks and service marks of the Experimental Aircraft First challenge: Find and recruit pilots Association, Inc. The use of these trademarks and service marks with- out the permission of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. is by Bruce Mamont strictly prohibited. Copyright © 2020 by the International Aerobatic Club, Inc. All rights reserved. The International Aerobatic Club, Inc. is a division of EAA and of the NAA. A STATEMENT OF POLICY The International Aerobatic Club, Inc. cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the material pre- sented by the authors of the articles in the magazine. The pages of Sport Aerobatics are offered as a clearing house of information and a forum for the exchange of opinions and ideas. The individual reader must evaluate this material for himself and use it as he sees DEPARTMENTS COVER fit. Every effort is made to present materials of wide interest that will be of help to the majority. Likewise we cannot guarantee nor endorse 2 PRESIDENT’S PAGE any product offered through our advertising. We invite constructive ON THE COVER: by Robert Armstrong Bill Finagin’s criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained Pitts S-2C. through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken. Sport 3 EDITOR’S LOG Aerobatics (USPS 953-560) is owned by the International Aerobatic Photo by Jim Koepnick by Lorrie Penner Club, Inc., and is published monthly at EAA Aviation Center, Editorial Department, P.O. Box 3086, 3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh, WI 54903- 3086. Periodical Postage is paid at Oshkosh Post Office, Oshkosh, 4 LINES & ANGLES ABOVE: Skip Stewart flying Wisconsin 54901 and other post offices. Membership rate for the Prometheus, which started 5 HANGIN’ IN THERE — I’VE GOT IT! International Aerobatic Club, Inc., is $45.00 per 12-month period of which $18.00 is for the subscription to Sport Aerobatics. Manuscripts by Lawrence V. Drake its life as a Pitts S-2S and was modified to give Skip the air submitted for publication become the property of the International Aerobatic Club, Inc. Photographs will be returned upon request of 28 MEET A MEMBER show machine he wanted. by Zinnia Kilkenny the author. High-resolution images are requested to assure the best Photo by DeKevin Thornton quality reproduction. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sport 32 FLYMART Aerobatics, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. CPC 40612608 www.iac.org 1 PRESIDENT’S PAGE Summer of 2020 Reflection, celebration and staying positive BY ROBERT ARMSTRONG, IAC 6712 GREETINGS, all aerobatic enthusiasts! In addition to the wonderful display The summer of 2020 is passing by panels, we have produced a photo without any of the usual activity that poster of members’ aircraft to celebrate is normally enjoyed by IAC mem- the 50! Thank you to the 200 IAC bers. Although there have been some members who submitted a photo of chapter play days, the first contests their aircraft from January through were scheduled to take place in the March to make this treasured keepsake second half of July. I hope the orga- happen. The 50th anniversary poster nizers pulled them together without can be purchased from the IAC online A BIG PART OF the burden of restrictions. I appreci- store. It is certain to be a collectors’ ate most feedback on activities being item as only a limited number will WHAT MADE THE positive as the cities, counties, and be printed. IAC HAPPEN THOSE states work through public safety A big part of what made the IAC concerns. It’s hard work we are happen those 50 years ago was the 50 YEARS AGO doing by being patient. release of some rather simple draw- As of this writing, the expected ings, with guidance on how to build WAS THE RELEASE improvement in the COVID-19 situation your own biplane, by a gentleman has taken some steps back in at least half named Curtis Pitts. Within a few years OF SOME RATHER the states. I have been checking the of the release of the design plans, a online available data daily and seem to purpose-built airplane with tremen- SIMPLE DRAWINGS, be spending hours each day tracking, dous in-air capabilities was on the reading links, and researching as much scene. For many years the Pitts Special WITH GUIDANCE ON information as I can find. was the go-to mount for aerobatic fly- I am comparing all the sources ing. My first exposure to a Pitts was at HOW TO BUILD YOUR and analyzing the information to the an air show in Athens, Georgia, that OWN BIPLANE, BY A best of my ability to see how it may featured both Beverly “Bevo” Howard affect our operations going forward in in his Bücker Jungmeister and Mary GENTLEMAN NAMED 2020, especially planning for the U.S. Gaffaney in her Pitts Special. In 1969 Nationals. Information available on that was very exciting to me, and it CURTIS PITTS. June 24 was rather negative, and the spurred me to build my own competi- U.S. Nationals organizers, your board, tion Pitts. Another story for another and I will be watching with care and time, but that little Pitts served me concern in the coming weeks. quite well for many, many years. A part of the IAC not suffering from This month you are treated to Part outside issues is our wonderful member- 2 of Budd Davisson’s series on buying ship magazine, Sport Aerobatics, thanks a Pitts Special. Budd is one of a very to editor Lorrie Penner. This month’s few who has had a close relationship issue includes the IAC 50th Anniversary with the creation and evolution of Spotlight pages featuring the exhibition every airplane that Curtis Pitts cre- panels that would have hung in the pavil- ated. While you may not recognize his ion during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. name from any contest results, Budd is The panels depict five decades of IAC’s by far a true expert on the Pitts fleet purpose to promote and enhance safety and is the go-to person for instruction and the enjoyment of sport aerobatics, on flying the Pitts. Please send your comments, questions, the start of our organization, and the As always fly safely, and for the times or suggestions to [email protected]. faces and places. we are in, protect your health! 2 SPORT AEROBATICS August 2020 EDITOR’S LOG Aircraft Ownership, Safety, and Technical Writing BY LORRIE PENNER, IAC 431036 YOU HEAR THESE STATEMENTS all Elsewhere in this issue, Larry Drake’s the time: “I can’t afford to buy an article on safety and the proper transfer aerobatic airplane, let alone one of pilot-in-command responsibility may for $400K,” or “Hardly anyone is strike a chord with you as it did me. A few building their own planes any- years ago, I was getting a ride from a more,” and even, “My flight school friend of ours in his Yak-55M. At one doesn’t have an aerobatic capable point he apparently asked me if I wanted plane for rent.” I agree with all of to take the controls. Unfortunately, the them, but, what about a type club, headset wasn’t working properly.