Pitts Model 12 after 20 years!

Bartman

Bartman

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Hi all,

There's a reason I've been quiet lately, after my Super D sold I found out about a Pitts Model 12 in Virginia that hadn't flown in a number of years and I ended up buying it. I've had the bug for a biplane since my 20's when I started a Skybolt project. I welded up the fuselage and realized used Skybolts weren't worth what it would cost to build it. The Pitts Model 12 was designed around the russian Vendeneyev M-14P radial engine and the engines were cheap at the time (about $13k for a NOS engine). So I sold my Skybolt project and started a Model 12. It didn't go far, was sold to the guy that would go on to become the current owner of the design, and I got back to being a dad and fledgling airline pilot.

At the time, a local Model 12 owner, Chris, and his pilot/mechanic friend Ray, offered me a ride which ended up being about 6 rides. We stayed in touch over the years as I continued to have the Model 12 as my ultimate bucket list airplane.

When the Super D sold I called the current owner of the design who is also the guy most likely to know what's happening in the used market. He turned me on to the plane in VIrginia and the purchase happened as quickly as I was able to move it along! It hasn't flown in about eight years so there's some work to do but Chris and Ray have been super helpful, we're heading down to do the annual in about a week and a half. I also went out to Illinois and flew with Jared Sebesta of Gambit Aviation in his Model 12. We did about 5 hours over two days.

I'm still looking for a clean late model Bellanca 7ECA project but learning to fly this glorious machine safely and with a high level of competence will be my main focus for the foreseeable future!

N880JB 3Jun2024.jpg
 
Thats an awesome looking airplane. Whenever you go down to VA and start your flight back to NJ, let me know. I'm on your way home, at a minimum, I think a low pass is in order. 2W2.
 
No Sir. I was getting it ready for the annual condition inspection and couldn't find one page of the operating limitations. As I was sifting through the pile of papers I got with the plane I found a receipt for a "Propeller overhaul due to prop strike". Apparently, when the airplane was brand new and hadn't even been flown yet, they taxiied it into the back of a truck. They had the prop overhauled (good so far) but didn't do any kind of damage assessment to the engine (bad, so bad!). They flew it ten to fifteen hours after this event and then parked it. So I'm in the process of planning the removal of the engine from the plane so it can be shipped to a shop for an inspection. The coils in the mags are also being swapped out for a new design that is less prone to heat damage. All in all, it's a bit of a shocker but the engine will be much better off after all of this has been done, I'll be more at ease with what I've got, and the pedigree of the engine will have been restored.

What I've learned from all of this, and maybe some of you know this already, except for the annual condition inspection which must be done by an A&P (or the builder who holds a Repairman Certificate for the specific airplane) and recorded in the logs,

ANYBODY CAN WORK ON AN EXPERIMENTAL
USING ANY MATERIALS AND
NONE OF IT HAS TO BE DOCUMENTED IN THE LOGS.

It seems INSANE but it is true and the FAA isn't super interested in changing it. Buyer beware doesn't even begin to explain the nature of buying an experimental. I've been an EAA member since 1991 and I had no idea that this is the reality of how it is.

@b727plumber are you on the field with Mac Transtrum?
 
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Bartman said:
@b727plumber are you on the field with Mac Transtrum?
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Sorry to hear that you discovered something that serious after you bought it! That is not right to sell an airplane without disclosure of something so serious. Having said that, an engine that hasn’t run in 8 years is probably a candidate for an IRAN. My buddy with the red model 12 had his engine rebuilt by Barrett Performance Engines with all the performance mods, including electronic ignition as well. He loves the increase in HP and you will too!!

Since I’m not based at KOLV, I don’t know the person you mentioned but I will ask my buddy.
 
Well, here's the latest....the engine is in Oklahoma at Barrett Precision Engines. They built the engine originally so it seemed like they should be the ones to do the prop-strike inspection. While it's there they are also doing an electronic ignition swap and putting in the latest higher compression pistons. The rings in the aftermarket pistons that were used when the engine was built have a tendency to stick so it seemed like a good time to eliminate that potential problem. Cylinders are being nickle plated and honed for the new pistons.

The plane is also getting a new rear instrument panel and the electrical wiring has been removed so it can be done over. The original builders used a Vertical Power VP-X power distribution box and the install was a mess. I'm going back to circuit breakers and switches and it should be much simpler, more reliable, and the heart of the electrical system won't be directly under my seat anymore!

There have been some other smaller problems discovered that are also being fixed, it's a pretty long list! In the end though the airplane will be much better, I'll be much safer, and the enjoyment factor should be much higher. It seems to me the whole thing would have been super glitchy if I didn't discover the prop strike episode in the paperwork and had tried to just fly it as is.

This is where it was a couple of weeks ago, it's a little better now and improving every day.

1000026111.jpg

Plumbing and stuff for the air start system has been cleaned up and secured better, the firewall has been given a good cleaning and coat of wax.
85441-firewall-pic.jpeg
 
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Merry Christmas, Bart and forum. Well, its been over two months since your last update, how are things on the Model 12?!?! 🙃
 
And did you ever find your 7GCA?

I picked one up in Denver in October - converted to GCAA 160 configuration. Spectacular ship! It out-climbs my 180 C/S Decathlon!

Other than a J-3, this would be my choice. What a neat aircraft! Engine failure practice is easier than the J-3, because it glides better.
 
Sorry I went silent here on this! Life has been keeping me/us busy here at home and the plane has been a challenge to master but I'm still working on it!

When I say it's been a challenge, the plane flies awesome but the systems design has been problematic. My first flight with it was back in May, 2025, I did the maiden flight after not really having any other options. It flew great, the first landing was good enough and it was a fun summer having the plane finally available to fly. I've got about eighteen hours in it since May. This was the first flight


There have been problems though, mostly with fuel delivery, rather than repost it all here, here's a link to a thread at biplanehangar.com that explains it

Pitts Model 12 Dual Electric Fuel Pumps Conversion

This project has been in the works for a couple of months and the parts have mostly all arrived so here's a quick video explaining why and what the plan is. Parts list for the project https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SFAFX3WqypvFnEXXfQ_tYy-lbwVgKqKNPsEzCAiaMP4/edit?usp=sharing The...
biplanehangar.com

I’m planning to get it back flying and hopefully fly a few contests with it next year.
 
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Good precaution on M14 fuel delivery - a few have had problems. Lots of M14 around here, even a model 12. Where 'bouts in NJ are you? I do sim at CAE in Morristown
 
Bartman, just read your post above Jun 27, 2024 and have some input. This will likely interest everyone.
It's not just experimentals that don't require log entries. (yes my tongue is in my cheek) I know you are all right now thinking "just wait a minute there bucko", but I have letters from Orlando FSDO and FAA legal in response to a whistle blower report I made on this issue.
My friend has an airplane that had an enormous amount of work done on it by an IA but he refused to do any log entries. In part the FAA letter states they conducted an investigation on a report I made and that it did not substantiate a violation of a regulation.
I will soon coalate the docs various and post them for public display.
Kel.
 
Maybe because they couldn't prove he did any work?
There are regulations that demand that mechanics and instructors log their work. They are the law. If the work is done on something not part of a certificated aircraft, then the FAA has no jurisdiction.

Opinion- too early to look up the regulations.
 
Nuchatlitz said:
Good precaution on M14 fuel delivery - a few have had problems. Lots of M14 around here, even a model 12. Where 'bouts in NJ are you? I do sim at CAE in Morristown
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I'm about 45 mins from CAE, a good friend of mine works there. Which aircraft do you fly? Let me know the next time you'll be in town for training, I'll drive out and meet you somewhere.
 
Kel said:
Bartman, just read your post above Jun 27, 2024 and have some input. This will likely interest everyone.
It's not just experimentals that don't require log entries. (yes my tongue is in my cheek) I know you are all right now thinking "just wait a minute there bucko", but I have letters from Orlando FSDO and FAA legal in response to a whistle blower report I made on this issue.
My friend has an airplane that had an enormous amount of work done on it by an IA but he refused to do any log entries. In part the FAA letter states they conducted an investigation on a report I made and that it did not substantiate a violation of a regulation.
I will soon coalate the docs various and post them for public display.
Kel.
Click to expand...

I can just imagine! Someone on the field bought a Bonanza that was a complete basket case despite the story as told by the logbooks. What a mess he got himself into.
 
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