I have 37 years and well over 4,000 hours of dual-given in the pattern teaching people to master the Pitts on the ground and in the air. Others specialize in akro, which I do as well, but I prefer to concentrate on overcoming the mystique of the Pitts and similar airplanes on the ground. It's not that hard. I really mean it when I say teaching Pitts landings is fun and I've never had a single student who didn't come to enjoy it.?

We charge $345/hr plus $60/hr for ground school (there's about 3.5 hours of that). Our Pitts is a long-gear S-2A so the attitude is identical to the S-2B/C. In landing, there is no difference between an S-2A/B/C and we can duplicate S-1C or S-1S characteristics and sight picture. We also train for the Pitts Model 12 (Macho Stinker), Skybolt and other high performance taildraggers.

Our goal in this training is to make pilots comfortable in the airplane in ANY wind on ANY runway, not just long, wide ones. Even though we have a 80 ft wide, 8,000 foot runway, we only use the first 1,600-2,000 feet and will, if you want, work you down to where you're using only half of the width. You'll average 8-12 landings an hour and you'll learn to handle the airplane in all sorts of unusual situations and emergencies.

If you have no tailwheel time, we strongly suggest getting a tailwheel endorsement first, although this isn't a requirment, just a strong recommendation. Then, spend a couple of hours in the pattern flying something like a Citabria from the back seat to get used to the sight picture. This will shorten your training time in the Pitts considerably.

Depending on background and experience as well as what you are transitioning into (single-place, two-place Pitts, Model 12, etc.), figure 8-10 hours for the transition, although that seems to vary all over the block and is impossible to predict. We fly 2.0-2.2 hours a day, so you'll need a minimum of four to five days on site, exclusive of travel time, with five to six days being more common.

Our akro courses are custom tailored to the student and his/her goals but generally break down this way:

-3 hours -- goes through the basic maneuvers, loops, rolls, inverted flight

-5 hours -- introduces a few more maneuvers and works at proficiency on the maneuvers.

-10 hours -- includes most maneuvers in the intermediate sequence and develops
proficiency in them.

Most people opt for a combination of the five hour course with several hours in the pattern learning to land the airplane, whether they intend to fly a Pitts or not, just so they have some familiarity with it.

Directions to the Airport

For planning purposes, we are located in the Scottsdale FBO building on Scottsdale Airport which is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Figure a 35 minute drive from Sky Harbor airport including traffic. DO NOT GO TO THE AIRPORT FIRST. CALL US ON ARRIVAL (602-971-3991) AS OUR GROUND SCHOOL ISN'T GIVEN AT THE AIRPORT.

Fastest route is to jump on 202 East, right out of the airport to the 101 north. Take that to Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. Exit and head West to Scottsdale Road. Go south on Scottsdale Rd to Butherus/Greenway and you'll see the airport entrance sign. Turn left. Go in the airport until the road "T"s at a stop sight. Turn left at the stop sign and go to the last building on your right, Executive Air Services. I'll meet you in the lobby.

Directions to B & B:

Give us a call at 602/971-3991 or 602/738-2045 (CELL)
or e-mail us at buddairbum@cox.net for directions to the B & B.

It is less than 20 minutes from Sky Harbor Airport.