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 Russian engine. The aircraft can be built from plans or as a kit plane, or bought ready-to-fly from the factory.

Design 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 The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...

, and fabric covered wings with wood spars. The leading edge is made of formed plywood. The

landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for taxiing, takeoff or landing. For aircraft, it is generally needed for all three of these. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, s ...

is solid

aluminum Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...

Operational history

, 59 examples had been completed and flown.

Variants

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

Specifications (Pitts Model 12)

References

External links

{{Aerobatics Homebuilt aircraft Pitts aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Biplanes Aerobatic aircraft Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Aircraft first flown in 1996 Single-engined piston aircraft