Curtis Pitts

Curtis Hardeman Pitts was an American aircraft designer, aircraft manufacturer, crop duster, and airport fixed-base operator. He became widely known and revered in the aerobatics community for his design of the Pitts Special, a series of highly aerobatic biplanes. Pitts Specials dominated aerobatic competition from the 1960's to the 1970's. Though later outclassed by newer monoplane designs, Pitts Specials remain popular as sport airplanes for their excellent flying qualities. The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC has called Curtis Pitts' design "revolutionary because of its small size, light weight, short wingspan and extreme agility".