The 2020 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo will commemorate the 75th anniversary of one of the most exciting aerobatic aircraft ever made — the iconic Pitts Special.
SUN ‘n FUN invites Pitts owners to showcase their planes in a specially designated parking area in SUN ‘n FUN’s new Aerobatic HQ. The aircraft will be displayed in the center of SUN ‘n FUN’s airside attractions, with a full range of forums and seminars for members and aerobatic enthusiasts onsite throughout the week. In celebration of Curtis Pitt’s legacy, those who bring their Pitts aircraft will be awarded free weekly admission for up to two.
Upon arriving at the fly-in, Pitts owners are requested to place a sign in their dashboards with large letters ACRO in order to be directed to the Aerobatic HQ parking area. Wristbands will be issued by SUN ‘n FUN volunteers upon arrival and registration.
The first test flight of the Pitts S-1 was made by Curtis Pitts himself in 1945, after which the aircraft type quickly gained acclaim from competition and recreational pilots alike. The Pitts Special is widely regarded as one of the most agile and maneuverable aerobatic aircraft in the world, and has been manufactured in numerous configurations during its storied history.
SUN ‘n FUN has two Pitts Special S-1 aircraft on display year-round in the Florida Air Museum, located on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus. Both from 1972, the first was built and donated by Paul and Audrey Poberezny’s daughter, Bonnie, which currently hangs inverted in the Buehler Restoration Center. Attendees of The Bash during this year’s fly-in can get an up-close look at this aircraft in its current location before it moves to its new home in the new Aerospace Center for Excellence’s Project SkyLab front entrance lobby. The 22,000-square-foot expansion is scheduled for completion in 2021. Bruce Dunham donated the second aircraft, currently on display in the expanding facility.
The SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is March 31-April 5, 2020.