Pitts Groundloop

"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)?

The Pitts has a very underserved reputation for being squirrelly on
landing. Like all performance airplanes, it requires that you be
constantly ahead of the airplane and a smooth hand (and in the case of
the Pitts...smooth feet as well :-)
Actually, the airplane handles very well on landing. I preferred a tight
circling approach instead of long finals to give me constant visibility
over the nose. No big deal at all. The airplane has extremely honest
handling qualities during the flare and touchdown. You do have to be
extremely smooth on the rudder during roll out, especially in a
crosswind, but nothing I would call abnormal in any way....about the
same as a T6 really. The airplane tracks straight. The only pilots who
get in trouble with a Pitts on landing are pilots who stop flying the
airplane before it comes to a stop back on the ramp...which BTW, is my
personal golden rule for ANY airplane! :-)
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired

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