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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:001SLB
    Last Civil Registration:N20164
    Compressed ID:Pitts S-1S cn 001SLB cr N20164
    Latest Owner or Location:Stephen L. Brown, Reno, NV

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a S-1S.

    To unknown owner with c/r N20164.

    From 15 September 1981 to 20 September 1981

    Raced as #00, named Tonapah Low.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Earl Allen. Qualified in 6th place with an average speed of 180.81 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 147.54 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 170.98 mph.

    1 August 1989

    To Stephen L. Brown, Reno, NV keeping c/r N20164.

    14 September 1990

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX20164 (PITTS S1, 001SLB) issued.

    From 17 September 1990 to 23 September 1990

    Raced as #00, named Tonapah Low.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown. Qualified in 20th place with an average speed of 149.042 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 144.883 mph. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 156.679 mph.

    From 9 September 1991 to 15 September 1991

    Raced as #00, named Tonapah Low.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown. Qualified in 19th place with an average speed of 160.011 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 151.810 mph. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 164.825 mph.

    From 14 September 1992 to 20 September 1992

    Raced as #00, named Tonapah Low.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown. Qualified in 8th place with an average speed of 175.321 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 8th place with an average speed of 170.271 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 176.185 mph.

    From 13 September 1993 to 19 September 1993

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 179.394 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 178.258 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 8th place with an average speed of 168.391 mph.

    From 12 September 1994 to 18 September 1994

    Raced as #00, named Miss Reno Air.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 6th place with an average speed of 182.613 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 184.509 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 177.710 mph.

    Circa 12 September 1994


    Photographer: Charlene Aro
    Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV.

    From 11 September 1995 to 17 September 1995

    Raced as #00, named Miss Reno Air.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 195.359 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 192.975 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 185.723 mph.

    From 9 September 1996 to 15 September 1996

    Raced as #00, named Miss Reno Air.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 201.621 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 201.904 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 200.489 mph.

    From 8 September 1997 to 14 September 1997

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 190.117 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 184.637 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 184.637 mph.

    From 14 September 1998 to 20 September 1998

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 198.229 mph. Started Heat 1A, but did not finish. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 187.344 mph.

    From 13 September 1999 to 19 September 1999

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 194.578 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 178.936 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 179.256 mph.

    From 11 September 2000 to 17 September 2000

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 206.248 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 201.982 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 199.563 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 200.802 mph.

    From 10 September 2001 to 15 September 2001

    Raced as #00, named Tonopah Low.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 206.248 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 206.248 mph.

    From 9 September 2002 to 15 September 2002

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 208.237 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 207.959 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 207.062 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 205.813 mph.

    From 8 September 2003 to 14 September 2003

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 212.527 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 201.465 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 198.080 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 184.573 mph.

    From 15 September 2004 to 19 September 2004

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 195.787 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 199.181 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 184.300 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 190.154 mph.

    From 12 September 2005 to 18 September 2005

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 4th place with an average speed of 212.133 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 205.636 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 195.708 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 209.680 mph.

    From 11 September 2006 to 17 September 2006

    Raced as #00, named TONOPAH LOW II.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Biplane class. The primary pilot was Stephen L Brown from Reno, NV. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 212.923 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 202.890 mph. Raced in Heat 2B. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 209.840 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 212.237 mph.

    13 September 2006


    Photographer: Nigel Roling
    Notes: N20164 #00 Tonopah Low IIIat the Reno Races 13_9_06

    6 February 2007

    Crashed.
    There was one fatality. The accident occurred at Incline Vlg, NV, United States while on decent. The damage was substantial.
    For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

    24 September 2013

    Civil registration, N20164, cancelled.
    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
    National Transportation Safety Board
    Reno Air Racing Association (National Championship Air Races)
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