Restoration Status:

Restoration of the Pitts Special Little Stinker was completed and the plane was "rolled out" of the workshop in April of 2001. The picture at left shows the Little Stinker at roll out, along with the Aichi Seiran and Hawker Hurricane. The newly restored plane was on display at the National Air and Space Museum from October 4, 2001 to April 1, 2003 as part of the Aerobatic Champions exhibition. The aircraft is now at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, opening December, 15, 2003, where it will be on permanent display.

A volunteer crew at the Garber Facility began restoration of the aircraft in 1996. Little Stinker was restored to match the red and white color scheme and distinct skunk emblem decoration that pilot Betty Skelton had on the aircraft in late 1949 and 1950.

The Little Stinker was the second Pitts Special constructed by Curtis Pitts in 1946. It gained national and international recognition with aerobatic pilot Betty Skelton who flew the aircraft in many air shows and won the Feminine International Aerobatic Championship in 1949 and 1950. The aircraft was bought, sold and displayed over the years until in 1985, Betty Skelton Frankman and her husband Don Frankman donated Little Stinker to the National Air and Space Museum.

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1999 Smithsonian Institution
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This image (at left) was taken in October, 1999 as restoration work on the cowling continued.