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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Pitts Special
    Latest Model:S-1S Special
    Construction Number:NW-3
    Last Civil Registration:N27NC
    Compressed ID:Pitts S-1S cn NW-3 cr N27NC
    Latest Owner or Location:Lock K. Names, Eugene, OR

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    Dates

    Event

    1989

    Constructed as a S-1S.

    5 July 1989

    To Norman R. Way, Manteca, CA with new c/r N27NC.

    20 April 1990

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX27NC (PITTS S1, NW-3) issued.

    From 9 September 1991 to 15 September 1991

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 186.787 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 181.112 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 183.842 mph.

    From 14 September 1992 to 20 September 1992

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 185.180 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 182.351 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 181.346 mph.

    From 13 September 1993 to 19 September 1993

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way. Qualified in 6th place with an average speed of 183.091 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 181.153 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 182.321 mph.

    From 12 September 1994 to 18 September 1994

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Stockton, CA. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 192.702 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 8th place with an average speed of 180.226 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 188.872 mph.

    From 11 September 1995 to 17 September 1995

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 197.009 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 188.599 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 192.300 mph.

    From 9 September 1996 to 15 September 1996

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 197.704 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 195.885 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 199.158 mph.

    From 8 September 1997 to 14 September 1997

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 199.822 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 191.391 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 191.391 mph.

    From 14 September 1998 to 20 September 1998

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 192.669 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 187.682 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 191.799 mph.

    From 11 September 2000 to 17 September 2000

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 199.506 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 194.166 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 173.638 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 191.674 mph.

    From 10 September 2001 to 15 September 2001

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 199.506 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 199.506 mph.

    From 9 September 2002 to 15 September 2002

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 208.895 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 207.306 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 206.787 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 209.167 mph.

    Circa 2003


    Photographer: Ken Videan
    Notes: At Reno.

    From 8 September 2003 to 14 September 2003

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 217.169 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 208.520 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 211.952 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 208.174 mph.

    From 15 September 2004 to 19 September 2004

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 214.452 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 214.862 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 202.710 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 205.553 mph.

    From 12 September 2005 to 18 September 2005

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 216.688 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 198.167 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 202.930 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 210.975 mph.

    From 10 September 2007 to 16 September 2007

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 209.782 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 190.419 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 213.345 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 208.975 mph.

    15 August 2008

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX27NC (PITTS S1, NW-3) issued.

    From 8 September 2008 to 14 September 2008

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 219.525 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 216.632 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 212.457 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 213.156 mph.

    From 14 September 2009 to 20 September 2009

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 224.742 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 215.446 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 218.726 mph.

    From 13 September 2010 to 19 September 2010

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 218.259 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 209.911 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 211.498 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 209.682 mph.

    From 12 September 2011 to 16 September 2011

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Norman Way from Manteca, CA. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 221.597 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 213.316 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 212.319 mph.

    From 9 September 2019 to 15 September 2019

    Raced as #27, named Magic.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Philip Ensley from Beaumont, CA. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 204.794 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 191.349 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 190.778 mph. Raced in Heat 3C. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 197.517 mph. Raced in the Championship race. The race was canceled.

    9 September 2019


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

    10 September 2019


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

    12 September 2019


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

    31 December 2020

    To Lock K. Names, Eugene, OR keeping c/r N27NC.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    Reno Air Racing Association (National Championship Air Races)
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