Pitts, Made in USA

Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:06 pm

Here are some Pitts aircraft (S1s and S2-Bs) taken at the Pitts Aerobatic (Aviat Aircraft Inc.) factory in Afton, Wyoming (winter 1983). Waiting for good weather to be delivered.

Upper wing installed on S2-B in Final Assembly.

All made in the USA.

Last edited by cadet77 on Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:16 am, edited 1 time in total.

Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:07 pm

I grew up just north of Afton, it's great to see some shots of what is going on on the inside of their factory. Thanks!

Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:45 am

Great stuff, thanks! It looks like all the pics were taken in series on the same day. If so, is there any possibility the pictures are older than winter 84? Both 49314 & 49315 are still registered and are 1983 S-1T models (which would make 1984 unlikely). It also looks like there might be a new S-2A pointing toward 49314. The A models ended production in 1982.

These are also all Aerotek built planes (prior to company being sold). Of interest is the blue S-2B with the top wing installed - this is the 10th B produced and is now G-IIII located in England (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0870129/M)

Do you have any more?

Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:15 am

jaybird,

Thanks for the comment. You made me go back and think about the year the photos were taken. Since the blue S2-B is by the records #10, it would make it Jan-Feb 1983, production on the S2-B started the end of 1982. The photos were all taken on the same day and the final out line was full because of the weather. Star Valley has long winters where the snow falls and piles up from November to April. I will check and see what other photos I have and post them when they are digitized.

All the best,

Larry

Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:16 pm

A few more Pitts at the factory.

Final Out

Final Assembly

Rebuild

Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:59 pm

That last picture would be "Little Bad Green", Bill cornicks s-1 after his accident.

Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:00 am

I grew up in Jackson,WY.
The family used to drive by this place... but this is my first view "inside".
Thanks for posting these!

Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:33 pm

Bluedharma wrote:I grew up in Jackson,WY.
The family used to drive by this place... but this is my first view "inside".
Thanks for posting these!

Yeah? I grew up in the Teton Valley, just over the pass from you.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:03 am

I got to meet Mr. Pitts at his private airstrip in s. fla. Great guy!

Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:33 pm

I owned Pitts S-1T N49318 for appox. 16 years and off the top of my head I think it came out of the factory appox Feb 1984.