How to land a Pitts S2B

Follow me through a couple of circuits in the Pitts S2B that we used to operate out of the Steinbach South Airport (CKK7) as I highlight a couple of landing techniques that I have taught to many students to great results.
Feeling free to email me at, [e-mail] with any questions or comments. Thanks for watching 🙃
(note, this is a repost of this video which was originally posted in 2011...apologies for the poor video quality )

[@johnwise497]

I’m a Cfi teaching a client to fly his Steen sky bolt, what I’ve been teaching him and what you said are pretty much word for word. Thanks for the confirmation.

[@texasflyboy525]

Yup! That's a narrow runway for sure. Great flying Luke!

[@YouTubeCatEngineer]

Pitts buddy of mine destroyed his plane when his engine quit during initial climb at Vx. He jammed the stick full fwd but the plane just fell out of the sky. He was trapped in the wreckage but luckily no fire. He told me NEVER climb a Pitts at a steep angle immediately after takeoff. I liftoff my S-2B just out of ground effect, accelerate to 100 mph minimum, then do a shallow climb to about 500 ft and only then do I pull the nose up. You are much safer close to the ground, 100 mph, and shallow pitch angle than 100 ft high, 70 mph, and steep pitch angle. If you're curious take the plane up to altitude, slow down just below Vx, note the altitude, add full power, pitch to Vx, then pull back to idle 100 ft above your start altitude. You simply cannot recover to a glide without busting your initial altitude. Speed is life in a Pitts.

[@jamesbutler7559]

I would hold it down low after liftoff, get speed and at the end of the runway, a steep 90 degree climb so you can make it back to airport if you lose the engine.

[@blancolirio]

Prefer the 180, power off technique! Good stuff Luke.

[@yams900]

Great video, just what I needed to know...to get me started in FS2020 :) Thx for sharing your knowledge !

[@deanmiles3505]

Great video, it answered some of my questions.

[@pittshopesp3064]

Very good Luke soon I will fly a Pitts again good hints

[@josephhubbard5299]

Thanks for the fun. Wish I would have had the chance when I was younger. Cool stuff.

[@RoninTXBR549]

Nicely done!

[@satellitechaser]

Next step is to learn how to land it from the front seat with a student in the back. Blind as a bat. Very memorable a/c Tons of fun.

[@budlawrence4847]

That was awesome

[@flywithhan]

Alright, I think I'm ready to go out and try it myself.

[@LukePennerAerobatics]

Hannah Neill Just make sure the camera is rolling 🤟🏻🤪

[@keithdavis864]

Yupyup

[@cadmanchannel]

Thank you!

[@StjepanNikolic]

Thanks Luke. Great video for someone who is going to learn Pitts. Your camera is on the left side so in reality you see much less than a camera. Would like to see stick and rudder movements, but all good. Cheers

[@crazypilot4017]

Nice 👍

[@MachTuck]

Great video Luke, are S2Bs 260 HP? where can I get info about aerobatic introduction? location, duration, and price. Thanks for sharing

[@benw1290]

Yep s2bs are 260 hp

[@delschier1419]

Thanks Luke! I own a two place Acro Sport and have not been flying it since I got it 3 years ago. I don't like not being able to see the runway on takeoff; it doesn't want to get the tail up. I am high time in canard aircraft and gliders but the Acro Sport spooks me. It would be nice to have a bigger grass runway than my home airport to get used to flying the thing.

[@johngriffiths118]

Camera under the nose linked to a I pad ?

[@TheIbanezs5470]

Nice one! I love Pitts Special. Is there any way to fly this aircraft from a country to another, or during night, if you make some modifications, like putting lights, radio, gps and stuff, could be acceptable to fly like a normal plane, eg Cessna 172 etc? Also, can i ask, how much does it cost to operate with a Pitts per hour? Is it affordable compared to others? I really love it and i wish i will have the money to buy one, one day. Thank you.

[@12345fowler]

Lindbergh did it so can you

[@MishMashMoto]

IMO, Flying a Pitts at night is not the best decision one can make. It can be done but experiencing an engine failure at night in a Pitts would not be what I want to do.

[@user-fn8zd8xu7f]

Братан , просто супер , я как бы слетал с тобой !

[@pdutube]

Great video! Wouldn't you want to climb at Vy because that's the quickest way to altitude? Vx will give you the steepest climb.

[@LukePennerAerobatics]

Thanks for the comment ! Vy could certainly be maintained as well but climbing closer to Vx will yield less forward distance travelled so if the engine fails very shortly after takeoff, you would have more remaining runway ahead to land on following your rapid pitch down to Vg. As soon as I’m at a safe altitude I’ll lower the nose for sure and climb Vy +20mph usually

[@daviddrummond7700]

Yep, you want to remain very close, they glide like a brick

[@scottnathan7907]

I been doing aerobatics, with this plane in MSFS. What is your usual manifold presure and prop RPMs for this airplane?

[@AMSeagle]

24 24

[@scottnathan7907]

@@AMSeagle Ok, thank-you!

[@bryanramey2438]

I always wondered how the heck you taxi in those airplanes without being able to see in front of you.

[@ZhihengCao]

Great video these 2 approach techniques appear more "natural" than slide slip in final technique to see runway often being taught; what do you think?

[@fsxflyboy]

What is the thing that looks like an aerial on the pillar between the left wings?

[@deanmiles3505]

I believe It's a site aid to get the proper angles such as straight and level and 45 degree siting.

[@jimarcher5255]

Reference point for aerobatics.

[@fsxflyboy]

@@jimarcher5255 thanks

[@terencephillips6833]

Obviously there is a very good reason to pilot these biplanes from the rear cockpit but I don’t what it is, wish someone could tell me , but what a beautiful little aircraft and how skilfully it’s handled .

[@NatedoGP]

I believe it has to do with the center of gravity

[@marciacunningham5877]

Visibility! Michael

[@marciacunningham5877]

No, visibility. Michael

[@keithdavis864]

I have a pitts S2b so I know how to land it but great video

[@drewdetsch5268]

Nice video but why Vx, you don't seem to have an obstruction. Vy will give you greater altitude

[@v1_rotate638]

There’s tons of trees around the field and he says in the video it’s so you can get maximum altitude close to the field in case of failure

[@Samuel-qi1fy]

If you fly with vx you don't have maximum height. If you fly vy you have maximum height.

[@harveycail2674]

Po