Here is a great looking foam Pitts biplane that is small enough to fit in anyone’s car but flies as good as many larger planes I love. It’s a winner!
Pitts S-1S 850mm – A Small Plane that Flies Big!
My uncle was a full-scale pilot with an air hangar on his property. I distinctly remember when I was around 5 years old my Grandpa took me to airshows all over Texas. The first plane I remember falling in love with was the Pitts. Maybe because it was red, or that it was a biplane, or because it was small…or all those things combined. I love Pitts! 75 years ago the Aviat Aircraft Company released the full-scale Pitts and people still fly them regularly today. The E-flite Pitts S-1S is a tribute to the Curtis Pitts design. I was excited to have one in my plane collection!
The E-flite Pitts S-1S is an officially licensed replica of the full-scale version. This EPO RC Pitts is scaled enough to put in your office but flies so good it will probably live in your shop. I am now a huge fan RC plane this size (more about that later).
| E-Flite Pitts S-1S 850mm BNF Basic Unboxing, Build, Fly – RCGroups Review (23 min 43 sec) |
Features
- An Aviat Aircraft Company officially licensed version of the iconic aerobat
- High-power, 3S- and 4S-compatible brushless outrunner motor and 40A ESC
- Spektrum™ 6-channel receiver with industry-leading DSMX® technology
- Unmatched stability and precision of AS3X® technology for smoother flight performance
- Easy to fly with optional-use SAFE® Select flight envelope protection
- Scale outline and surface detail, plus a matching spinner and appointed cockpit
- Durable aluminum landing gear with scale covers and wheel pants
- Tool-free wing assembly with quick-release hardware
- Optional-use flying wires included for added scale looks
- Large cockpit hatch and removable tray simplifies battery installation
- Lightweight and durable EPO foam construction
- Factory-finished with a scale trim scheme
Specs
- Cost: $199.99
- Completion Level: Bind-N-Fly Basic
- Flying Weight: 46 oz (1304 g)
- Length: 31 in (787mm)
- Material: Foam
- Minimum Required Radio: Full-Range 5+ Channel DSMX/DSM2
- Minimum Speed Control: 40A
- Motor Size: 10BL 1200Kv
- Recommended Motor Battery: 1800-2200mAh 3-4S LiPo with EC3 Connector
- Wing Area: 437 sq in (28.2 sq dm)
- Wingspan: 33.5 in (850 mm)
What’s In the Box
In my video, I show you exactly what is in the box and go through the build. Essentially the plane is built for you other than the wings and the prop. The wings can be tricky so I’ll touch on that in the build photos (and in the video).
The contents.
- Don’t forget the landing gear on the bottom of the foam!
- Test fit your elevators before you glue them in.
Flying Thoughts
Man do I love this plane! It is small enough to throw in your back seat but flies like a much larger plane. This plane flies very well on a 3s lipo but with the upgraded motor (thanks Horizon) it rocks on 4s lipo! I mean you can wad this plane up in the air. On a 3 cell, it can hover at 3/4 throttle. On a 4 cell, it hovers at half throttle! Now maybe hovering a Pitts isn’t your thing but it does give you an idea of power increase with the larger battery. The roll rate is great. Slow roll rates drive me crazy and this one is just right. It is a small plane but thanks to the AS3X it flies like a .40 or .60 sized bird, and it can handle some wind. We tested the stall tendencies and I fully expected this short coupled Pitts to drop a wing but we were surprised that is just mushed forward. Very cool. Other than the thumb-numbing cabanes there really isn’t anything not to like about this plane. You can fly it stock or change out to your prop preference. I think the rudder needs more throw. You c