The history of the famous Pitts Special began in 1942 when Curtiss Pitts, a crop duster and manager of a small airport in Florida, became captivated with aerobatics. Lacking the funds to purchase a plane, Curtiss Pitts built his own aerobatic aircraft in 1944, the Pitts Special. It is widely accepted that the Pitts Special is the standard by which all other aerobatic planes are judged. Curtiss Pitts sold one of his planes to the owner of world Air Shows in Miami, and it eventually made its way to Betty Skelton, a young pilot. Over the next few years, Skelton flew her red and white Pitts Special, “Little Stinker,” all over the world, winning the International Aerobatic Championships for women in 1948, 1949 and 1950. As Skelton’s fame grew, so did that of the Pitts Special. By 1962, plans were made available for the public to build the Pitts at home. It was also the official plane of the United States Aerobatic team for several years.

The Pitts Special began winning U.S. National Aerobatic Championships as far back as 1965 and it continued to win the majority of U.S. National Unlimited Championships through 1980. In 1970, the United States Aerobatic entry won the World Team Championships in a Pitts Special. Four years later, the United States Aerobatic Team won a “Grand Slam” at the world Championships in France, with a First Place Men’s, First Place women’s and the world Team Championship in 1974. All United States flyers used the Pitts Special. For many years since that time, the Pitts Special has dominated unlimited aerobatic competition throughout the free world; this little aerobatic champion has also been flown in competition by British, German and Australian pilots.

The Museum’s aircraft is the 180 hp, symmetrical airfoil, model S-1 S. The S-1S is powered by a four cylinder Lycoming engine, can attain a top speed of 177 mph, and is incredibly maneuverable. It was manufactured by Pitts Aviation Enterprises in Homestead, Florida. It was home built by Harvey Short of Coronado, California in 1975, and is presented in the same paint scheme as the Special flown by Betty Skelton. The aircraft was purchased by the Museum in 1980.