Curtis didn't invent aerobatics. He didn't invent biplanes. He didn't invent the concept of small planes with big engines. He did, however, re-invent all of those factors and mold them into the image we now know as modern aerobatics. He and his little airplanes completely rewrote the aerobatic history books and opened the world of serious aerobatics and pure high performance to the masses. As a result of his efforts, an individual with dedication and a yearning for the third dimension could take a roll of drawings and convert them into a rag and tube ball of lightning that would never fail to take their breath away. Source: Pilots honoring sport aviation pioneer Curtis Pitts at an ICAS convention in Las Vegas, NV, several years ago. Pitts died this week. He was 89