What happened to Steve Oberg?
UPDATE: Steve Oberg, pilot of the Pitts biplane, has died following today’s crash at the Cameron Air Show. During today’s performance, he dove down towards air show center but never pulled out of the dive. He was LifeFlighted to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead around 4:00 pm.
How much does a Pitts airplane cost?
Experimental, amateur-built, single-seat Pitts biplanes are widely available at prices beginning around $25,000, and buyers should plan to spend upwards of $35,000 for the more desirable 180-horsepower, four-aileron models.
Are aerobatics safe?
But relative to the sport of aerobatics itself, with proper equipment and training, it can actually be quite safe. Based on a total of around 300-325 airshows per year throughout the country, the number of deaths per years is actually quite low. Meaning that accidents at airshows and air races are actually quite rare.
Who is the best aerobatic pilot?
Patty Wagstaff (née Patricia Rosalie Kearns Combs; born September 11, 1951) is an American aviator and U.S. national aerobatic champion.
What kind of plane is the Pitts Special?
Pitts Special in flight. The Pitts Special (company designations S1 and S2) is a series of light aerobatic biplanes designed by Curtis Pitts. It has accumulated many competition wins since its first flight in 1944.
What kind of engine does the Aviat Pitts S2B have?
Aviat Pitts S2B 1996 Aviat Pitts S-2B 1998 Aviat Pitts S-2C Engine: Model Lyc. AEIO-540-D4A5 Lyc. AEIO-540-D4A5 No. Cylinders 6 6 Displacement 541.5 cu. in. 541.5 cu. in.
What happened to the Pitts S-2B?
The second incident occurred in July 1995 in a Pitts S-2B with almost 800 hours on it. Maryland aerobatic instructor Nancy Lynn made a successful landing on a farmer’s grass runway after throttle cables were stretched and jammed by the weight of the engine as it slipped downward several inches.
Is the Pitts S-2B a tight fit in the cockpit?
Most of the evolutionary changes that have led to the Pitts S-2B are welcomed by its pilots. Even with a parachute on, there’s plenty of room to move around in an S-2B cockpit, despite the popular belief that any Pitts is a tight fit.
