| SA-2A Sky Baby | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sky Baby on display | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft Type of aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | Ray Stits |
| First flight | 26 May 1952 |
| Number built | 1 |
TheStits SA-2A Sky Baby is ahomebuilt aircraft designed for the challenge of claiming the title of "The World's Smallest".[1]
The Sky Baby was designed by Ray Stits and built withRobert H. Starr as a follow-on to theStits Junior midget racer. The aircraft is an enclosed single engine negative staggered cantileveredbiplane withconventional landing gear. Thefuselage is constructed of welded steel tubing withaircraft fabric covering. The upper wings haveflaps, the lower wings haveailerons. Most aircraft use a flat firewall between the engine and pilot's feet, the Skybaby is configured with the pilot sitting with the engine close to the lap, and rudder pedals located under the oil sump toward the front of the cowling.[2] The powerplant was sourced from anERCO Ercoupe, modified with water injection to produce 112 hp (84 kW).[3]
The aircraft was test flown byRobert H. Starr on 26 May 1952 atPalm Springs, California. The short coupled aircraft was originally built withtricycle landing gear, which was dropped in favor of the lightertailwheel arrangement. The aircraft required a 170 lb (77 kg) pilot to remain within the center of gravity and was only flown by pilots Robert H. Starr and Lester Cole that met the criteria. The landing procedure uses 125 mph (201 km/h) entry patterns, with 80 mph (129 km/h) on final approach, and 55 mph (89 km/h) touchdown speeds. The aircraft performed publicity flights to promote an airshow act. It was retired in October 1952 after 25 hours of flight time.[4]
The aircraft was eventually donated to theNational Air and Space Museum for display.[2] Ray Stits was a mechanic andSecond World War fighter pilot, but claimed he was not an engineer. He went on to develop several home-built designs, including theStits SA-3A Playboy, which would be the basis for theVanGrunsven RV-1 and thousands ofVan's Aircraft.[5]
The Sky Baby was on display at theEAA Airventure Museum inOshkosh, Wisconsin on loan from theNational Air and Space Museum.[6] In 2014, the Sky Baby was moved to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of theNational Air and Space Museum, and placed on display there.[7]
Data from Sport Aviation
General characteristics
Performance
