Aerobatic pilot Lauren Richardson flying aerobatics in Pitts S1-S G-BKDR.
Lauren Richardson is the face of The Aerobatic Project, owner, pilot and chief carer of Pitts G-BKDR. She is one of the most talented and accomplished aerobatic and display pilots in the UK, as well as one of the youngest at just 27 years old. Not only is she completely committed to flying and creating ever more dynamic and stylish performances in the air, she is an enthusiastic and approachable ‘face’ on the airshow scene, going out of her way to interact with spectators and enthusiasts as often as possible. She is keen to help and inspire as many people as she possibly can, to be more than just another airshow flyer. G-BKDR is a Pitts Special S1-S, originally built in 1982. The Pitts Special was originally designed by Curtis Pitts in 1943-1944. The design has been continuously refined and modified since the prototype’s first flight in September 1944, however, still retains the character of Curtis’ original concept. Pitts biplanes dominated world aerobatic competition in the 1960s and 1970s and still remain potent competition aircraft and a firm favourite of airshow performers world-wide. Designed and built for serious aerobatics, Lauren’s machine, G-BKDR, has over the years received a few modifications to increase its performance and strength beyond that original design – over-sized control surfaces (ailerons, rudder and elevator) mean that she rolls blisteringly fast, flick rolls even faster and performs almost any conceivable aerobatic manoeuvre with style and aplomb. Beneath the cowlings lurks a Lycoming IO-360 engine and a full inverted fuel and oil system, meaning that 180hp reaches the lightweight wooden Hercules propeller in all attitudes – this Pitts can fly upside down almost indefinitely. Her cleverly designed fuselage also generates enough lift with the aircraft positioned in the ‘knife-edge’ that she can also fly along quite happily sideways, showing off the stunning sunburst paint on her top wing to full effect.
Size: 5550px × 3678px
Location: Little Gransden, Cambs, UK
Photo credit: © Avpics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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