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Edson Grindeland's Pitts S1-C
The Pitts S1 was first built by Curtis Pitts and Phil Quigley in 1945. It had a 55 hp Lycoming (later, a 90 hp Franklin) and rigid landing gear. Only the lower wings had ailerons, and both wings used the M-6 airfoil. Ten more S1's were planned in 1945, but only one was finished (with a stronger, enlarged fuselage.) Quigley flew it in airshows until Betty Skelton bought it in 1947. Registered as N22E and named "Little Stinker", it helped her win the women's national aerobatic title. In 1949, S1 number three was built for Caro Bayley with a 125 hp Lycoming. Curtis gave plans to two friends in the early 1950s, and one used 170 hp. Two more were built in 1955 - Pat Ledford's N8L was the testbed to refine the plans for homebuilders.
Edson Grindeland's S1-C, shown above, was built in 1963 with a Lycoming O-320. It was later upgraded to a Lycoming 0-360 180hp parallel valve engine, spring gear, smoke system, 62 pitch metal prop, full electric, spades, inverted oil system and a canopy. It cruises at about 140 mph at 2600 rpm. Edson bought it in August 2006. It's his first Pitts, and he is happy to report that it's a blast to fly.
Replica of the original 1945 Pitts Special S1-C
