Pitts Samson
Wolf Samson II, a modernized Pitts Samson replica
Role Aerobatic biplane
National origin United States
Designer Curtis Pitts
First flight 1948
Status Destroyed
Number built 1
Developed from Pitts Special

The Pitts Samson was an aerobatic biplane designed by Curtis Pitts in 1948.

Design and development

The Samson was designed for aerobatic pilot Jess Bristow.[1] It was a larger variant of the earlier Pitts Special, built using war surplus parts. It had an open cockpit and was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine.[2]

Operational history

In 1952, the sole Samson, registered N52137, suffered a mid-air collision and crash landed, being destroyed in the resulting fire. Pilot Buddy Rogers was uninjured.[1][2]

Replicas

Wolf Aircraft built a replica of the Samson in 1985. Like the original, the replica was powered by a 450 hp R-985 Wasp Junior. This aircraft was also destroyed in a mid-air collision in 2005, killing pilot Bobby Younkin and his airshow partner Jimmy Franklin.[3][4]

Wolf Aircraft built a second Samson replica in 2005 for the company's founder, Steve Wolf, who sold it to a German pilot shortly after it was completed. The aircraft, referred to as "Samson II",[5] is of a modified design, with the fuselage being a foot shorter than the original and featuring ailerons on the top wing. The aircraft was eventually bought by American pilot Tim Just under the registration N985TJ, and was reportedly involved in an accident on May 20, 2018, in which it lost control on landing and came to rest inverted, though the pilot was uninjured.[4][6]

B & R Aviation began construction of a Samson replica for Pip Borrman in 2000. This replica was of a modernized design, featuring metal and carbon fiber construction, the airfoil of a Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing, and the control surfaces of a Pitts Model 11 "Super Stinker". It was powered by a fuel injected R-985 Wasp Junior which drove a MT propeller. The aircraft, registered VH-EAB, was completed in 2008. At approximately 14:30 on February 25, 2009, Borrman's Samson suffered an engine failure and crashed while practicing for the following month's Australian International Airshow, destroying the aircraft and killing Borrman.[2][7]

Specifications (Samson)

Data from [1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
  • Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
  • Wing area: 185 sq ft (17.18 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.76
  • Empty weight: 1,900 lb (862 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,671 lb (1,212 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior nine-cylinder radial engine, 450 hp (336 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 180 mph (290 km/h, 160 kn)
  • Wing loading: 14.14 lb/sq ft (69.0 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 5.86 lb/hp

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pitts Samson". all-aero.com. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Eyre, David (May 8, 2019). "Pitts Samson". Aeropedia. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Wolf Samson". 2009-10-21. Archived from the original on 2009-10-21. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  4. 1 2 "Samson Biplane Replica to Return to the Airshow Circuit". Flying. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  5. ↑ "Aircraft Data N985TJ, Wolf Sampson II C/N WS-002". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  6. ↑ "Pitts Samson, N985TJ: Accident occurred May 20, 2018 at Apple Valley Airport (KAPV), San Bernardino County, California". Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  7. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Pitts Samson VH-EAB, 25 Feb 2009". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
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