PITTS SPECIAL SI S
The aircraft flown by Richard is a Pitts Special SI-S. It is fully aerobatic (can withstand plus and minus 10 g) and construction consists of a fabric covered steel fuselage with wooden wings. The Pitts has a Lycoming 4 cylinder 320 cubic inch horizontally opposed engine that develops 190 hp. It travels at a cruise speed of 120 knots (220 km/hr) and a top speed of 180 knots (330 km/hr)
Richard Hood
Richard Hood is a grandson of George Hood, after whom the airfield is named. He flies for Airwork NZ Ltd in Auckland. His credentials for flying the aerobatic Pitts Special are having been five times New Zealand Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, four times Royal New Zealand Open Aerobatic Champion and three times Royal New Zealand Professional Aerobatic Champion.