How I Land A Pitts S-1S

[@BenLomov]

Watched this last night and decided to finally give the wheel landing a shot when I went up this morning. Haven’t done a wheel landing since I last flew a Citabria like five years ago! But I slowly eased into it and it worked out just fine in my Pitts 😎. Thanks for the instructional video Alex, you the man!!!

[@alexandercoats]

Haha thanks Ben. Are you competing at Tracy?

[@BenLomov]

@@alexandercoats Honestly I’ve been so out of the loop (pun intended) lately that I’m not even sure when it is😬🤣 are you gonna be coming up for it?

[@YouTubeCatEngineer]

I trained in a Pitts S-2B with the super cool Hartzell 3-blade "claw" prop. My instructor had a 2-blade metal prop with bent tips hanging on the back wall of his hangar - hence the reason for the upgrade to the 3 blade. Guess why the 2 blade prop was bent? Yup. Wheel landings. My instructor didn't tell me to NEVER do a wheel landing in a Pitts but he did make it clear what the risk was.

[@alexandercoats]

I definitely understand people’s hesitations when it comes to wheel landing the Pitts or Christen Eagle. Whatever way you feel most comfortable landing it is totally cool with me. No judgement either way.

[@bretdavenport5590]

Good video as usual. The way I think of it is to always have more than one tool in your belt. Cross countries in a Pitts is where those tools come in handy.

[@alexandercoats]

I agree completely! it was probably my first three point attempt in a year

[@pittss2c601]

Great job. You got pretty far to the right of centerline on that first three point landing. I learned to master three point landings in my S1S since I operated from a short and super narrow grass strip. On calm days my rollout used the entire distance. Wheel landings are preferred if you have a long runway to help save the tail wheel and improve visibility. All the air show pilots wheel land their airplanes. I approached at much slower speed than you're approaching. If only we could magically see through the engine when landing a Pitts. The Pitts has so much control authority that you can land it anywhere.

[@alexandercoats]

if you look closely you can see the right wheel coming up, as I added left aileron it created more lift on the right side and I didn't want to fight it too much for fear of ground looping it, so I just kept it tracking as straight as I could with light braking. probably haven't three pointed it in over a year

[@JamesMiller-q9w]

No need to three point that little short coupled scorpion unless you wish to rebuild the lower wing....Wheel land and have full tail control...Excellent Video Al @@alexandercoats

[@Frostee968]

Once again, such an awesome video Alex!

[@alexandercoats]

Thanks Frostee!

[@cheapskateaviation]

Just came across this channel and it looks great! I only have like 45 minutes as a passenger in a Pitts S-2, but man was it fun 😁 I did want to add one little bit of constructive feedback though intended to be helpful and not critical. Your production quality is WAY better than my youtube channel, so I'm not really one to talk, but I could have definitely done with quieter music and louder voice. It was pretty difficult to hear what you were saying anytime the music was playing. Love the cinematography and the flying overall though. Great work!

[@alexandercoats]

I agree! I need to figure out how to balance the music and talking. Ill work on it with my next video

[@blancolirio]

3 point is the way to go in the Pitts I say....!

[@Truthwarrior106]

Amen to that brother. Less wear and tear on wheel bearings and brakes, plus you will NEVER win a STOL contest doing wheelies. An old Crop duster friend up in Mount Vernon Wa., forbid wheel landings in his pristine grass field.(Barker Field). RIP Dave B.

[@alexandercoats]

Hey whatever way gets you down safely I’m cool with. No judgements, I suck at 3 pointing it so I stick to the wheel landings

[@Truthwarrior106]

New Pitts / Eagle pilots, while on downwind, try and note if there are aircraft in run up area, what type and color aircraft , if there actually are, keep an eye on them, do a belly check on base/final and make sure that they hold short of active . Also quick check for the planes on a long straight in that may suprise us. I wish I had a dollar for every plane that pulled out onto the runway while I was on short final in my Pitts S1S . Then if traffic permitting I do a 360 over head approach after letting the pilot know " politely" that he cut me off on short final! (sometimes I even fly right past them to see the look on their face while I thank them for cutting me off ! (Not recommended) We decend much quicker from the perch than they are used to as they do a poor job clearing final before rolling onto runway for takeoff.

[@healerf18]

A bit late to the party, but great video. Obviously three-point vs wheel landings is a very personal topic and there is no one right answer. I own and fly a Cessna 180 and I reserve three-points for short field grass and gravel only (and full disclosure, I'm not particularly good at them!) Otherwise wheel landings only. Especially on asphalt with a cross wind. To add to the point that airshow pilots generally wheel land, I know part 135 operators here in Alaska that will not allow their pilots to three-point their C-185's, Beavers, Otters, etc.

[@alexandercoats]

I like your perspective on it. I wheel land everything by preference. I think there is a time for different landings but I think you said it best

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

Couldn't see the asi over the numbers, what was your touchdown speed?

[@alexandercoats]

I feel like it’s right around 75-80 mph on the power off wheel landing.

[@roryhicks2058]

Yeah I’m with you ppl are obsessed with 3 pointing Pitts and nothing else but I much prefer the wheel landing. Plus I can really kiss it on most times with the wheel landing so it’s much nicer or the gear and everything else I feel like it’s much harder to get a really nice soft touch down on a 3 point that makes my 2 cents anyway

[@alexandercoats]

I feel like so many of us wheel land them, it always felt so much safer. Especially when you get a cross wind

[@DavePalmerFiasco]

I’m looking for a west coast based familiarization instructor. Purchased an AcroSport II for spring ferry from Midwest to west coast. Tailwheel proficient in Scout. Can you suggest landing -focused training pilot for me?

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

Nice video subscribed.

[@alexandercoats]

Thanks Dude!

[@PittsBird]

Appears to me that your preference is a result of the speeds you're using. Fast.

[@alexandercoats]

I think my airspeed indicator reads a bit high, but I still like to cross the fence at 100, it bleeds off fast since I'm completely idle

[@pittss2c601]

@@alexandercoats 100 mph is really fast for crossing the fence. I always aimed for a 75 to 80 mph. You have to approach slowly with a short runway. You don't have the luxury of distance. I only approach that fast in 2-seat Pitts Specials due to the weight.

[@alexandercoats]

@@pittss2c601 I do have the luxury of a 5000’ runway, but I feel like it bleeds off to about 75-80 as my wheels touch the ground. I keep that extra speed so I can round it off aggressively at the bottom if I need to and the bottom end won’t fall out.

[@PittsBird]

@@alexandercoats Obviously both types of landings work, but hey, the little wheel has to come down sometime! 😉

[@jamesbutler7559]

I have about 500hrs in S2A and S1T. Never once wheel landed. JMO

[@alexandercoats]

Either way you land, at the end of the day you’re flying a Pitts so it’s cool by me

[@pittshopesp3064]

Its not easy to comprehend what you have done not a really explanation approach speed feet snd Aileron explaining please explain some more.tks😊

[@alexandercoats]

Looking back I definitely left out a lot of information. You’re not the first one to say it, I have tried to get better at explaining things

[@pittshopesp3064]

I will wait❤

[@1bizjets]

Fast.

[@alexandercoats]

Haha exactly

[@matthewmorrissey3280]

30 years # landing Pitt’s, 5000 hrs tailwheel. . I have flown contest all over the World. I have never seen a professional Pitt’s pilot wheel land. . Never wheel landed one! Why? Please don’t teach this…. If you suck at it then practice more.

[@alexandercoats]

I appreciate your opinion on the wheel landings. I always watched Sean and Skip wheel lands their pitts. I’ve seen old videos of Kirby wheel landings. I’ve always felt it was more controlled and safer. I value your opinion but I believe you should teach people how to do both.

[@stjepannikolic5418]

16 cameras pointing at you and none showing the asi.. music make it worse as we can't hear the engine.. good landings, but no like, no subscribe from me

[@alexandercoats]

I get it, no engine noise takes away from the video. I’ve been trying to edit it with both. Takes a bit more time but it’s a comment I get a lot. I’ll switch it up