Walking the flight line, just north of the Boeing Plaza, I noted numerous Pitts airplanes but one grabbed my attention. It was drop-dead gorgeous. Even better, the apparent owner-pilot was wiping it off so I could talk with him. After introductions, I learned he is Paul Muhle from Columbus, Nebraska, and the beautiful plane was a 2007 AirVenture Grand Champion. Despite 17 years and approximately 350 hours of flying (including at least 10 trips to Oshkosh), the plane is immaculate. Equipped with an IO-360, 200 hp Titan engine using 9.5:1 compression, it was built for advanced-level aerobatic competition.
The Pitts was Muhle’s third plans-built project. An earlier project, a 1993 Acrosport II initially won Reserve Grand Champion and, a year later, Grand Champion at AirVenture. His Rihn DR-107 One Design, built during the 1990s, won AirVenture Grand Champion in 2000. It is not surprising that his avocation evolved into a full-time aircraft restoration business, Muhle Aviation Works. Armed with all this experience, he freely expressed some creativity to give the current Pitts S1-SS a more modern look.
It was a five-year build completed in May of 2007. He clipped the wings, made slight changes to the tail feathers, designed a unique canopy and cowl, laid the seat back a bit, and lengthened the fuselage. He also incorporated the main gear legs into the engine mount. The result is stunning and worth a walk-by to enjoy its beauty.
