E-Flite/Horizon Hobby Pitts S-1S 850mm BNF

Fly the classic biplane that ushered in aerobatic competition

- Rich Uravitch

Modeled after Curtis Pitts’s classic aerobat, this Bind-N-Fly (BNF) bipe is among the nicest I’ve seen from a fit, finish, and flyability standpoint. The fact that it’s a scale model, at 1/6 size, only sweetens the deal. This machine is likely to find a home with, and become a favorite of, intermediate-level pilots with some aileron time in their logbook.

UNIQUE FEATURES

E-flite’s offering is a well-designed, all-foam model of this classic aerobat. This model arrives well protected, with predecorated components, leaving you with almost nothing to do but assemble a small number of parts and set up your radio.

Although the plane features removable wings, it may not need to be broken down that far. With a span of only 33.5 inches, the model should be able to fit in most vehicles in one piece. Other box contents include metal landing gear, predressed up with scale fairings and wheel pants. The included pilot bust with installed instrument panel and functional flying wings are the final touches for this terrific scale aerobat.

The fuselage features a large removable hatch to allow easy access to all the innards, such as the battery, radio gear, and linkages. The assembly manual is laid out and presented in a fashion that is easily understood; logically sequenced and amply illustrated, using line drawings rather than photos. A complete parts list lets you inventory everything and get a feel for the terminology if you are a relative newcomer.