All other comments here not withstanding, the Pitts has a funny quirk in
that it tracks straight and true in the initial landing and rollout but when
it gets down to about 30 mph, does get really squirrely and tends to make
it's most dramatic attempts at groundlooping. As everyone else has said,
it's not too big a deal and smooth but quick feet are all you need to make
it behave.

Shawn
Pitts S-1D
"Michael 182" wrote in message
news:woyWc.305300$%_6.409@attbi_s01...
I was sitting on the FBO bench today when a Pitts groundlooped. The pilot
is
fine - he walked away from the plane. The plane seemed to have suffered
pretty minor damage as well. About a 40 degree 12 knot crosswind -
certainly
not windy conditions.

The comment by the FBO owner was "the most acrobatic maneuver in a Pitts
is
landing the plane". While this may or may not be true, it is amazing how
fast the Pitts comes in over the runway - his turn from downwind to final
(there really is no base) drops 800 feet and he seems to cross the
threshold
at at least 80 knots.

I'd be interested in hearing from Pitts owners/flyers - are they as
difficult to land as they seem (at least to a 182 owner)?