The Pitts Model 12 (also known by its nicknames "Bolshoi", "Macho Stinker", "Pitts Monster") is a high performance aerobatic biplane designed around the Vedeneyev M14P/PF engine. The aircraft can be built from plans or as a

kitplane Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch", from plans, or from assembly kits.Armstrong, Kenn ...

, or can be 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 ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraf ...

, and fabric covered wings with wood spars. The

leading edge The leading edge of an airfoil surface such as a wing is its foremost edge and is therefore the part which first meets the oncoming air.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 305. Aviation Supplies & Academics, ...

is made of formed plywood. The

landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for takeoff or landing. For aircraft it is generally needed for both. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, such as the Glenn L. Martin ...

is solid

aluminum Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It ha ...

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 has been constructed by Jim Kimball Enterprises called "The Beast".

Specifications (Pitts Model 12)

References

External links

{{Aerobatics Homebuilt aircraft Pitts aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Biplanes Aerobatic aircraft