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By BOB BO'DEl\

Ready to park in an eight-foot-wide space is Stits

Playmate with its wings folded.
Mid-day heat begins to boil - In
land Southern California style - as the
mercury in the thermometer goes on
climbout. Sunshine reflects from the
gleaming yellow paint of NSK as you
~ All slide open the cockpit canopy.
The low-wing, tri-geared, strut
braced monoplane contrasts sharply
against the stark white of a hangaI
door at Rubidoux-Flabob Airport just
west of the Santa Ana River frorr
Riverside.
This is the horne of Ray Stits
Playmate , a stubby , three-place air
plane designed to fold in 30 second!
and go horne to park in the garage
side-by-side with the family car.
"I guess you know how to start it
huh, Bob," said Stits, tugging at the
visor of his EXperimental Aircraft As
sociation cap as he walked toward the
right side of the airplane.
There's the Playmate's left seat
waiting, ready to be snuggled into. It'!
time to renew acquaintance with thf
airplane that began when she was ~
nondescript association of metal tub
ing and wooden wing formers, in 196{
and 1967.
And the last time we went test-fly
ing in NSK she had only a 12S-hI
Lycoming engine and no upholstery
Now the SA-II A has a 150-hp Lycom
ing. The seats are more cuddly witl
black vinyl and yellow trim. The exter
ior color scheme is yellow and bJacJ
trim.
You step up onto the black left sid,
walkway at the wing root where i
folds. Swing over the side, into th
cockpit, shOving your right leg aroun!
your half of the "U" shaped dual
control stick assembly.
Settle back in the seat, squirming
just a bit to find the right way to get
into the shoulder harness. Ray eases
into the right seat and holds the
harness on that side for your arm to
slip through.
"I guess we changed the belts since
you flew it last," says Ray as he
buckles in and you firm up the harness
on your side.
There's the brake handle tucked
between the seats beside your right
hand. A pull control on the panel, left
of center, sets the brakes.
The master switch with its red
safety cover is at the upper left, just
below the turn-to-start magneto
switch . Flip the master switch on,
check the push-pull mixture control
for rich. Carburetor heat control is
pushed in for cold.

Give the throttle a couple of pumps,
turn the switch to "start" and the
engine goes into action promptly,
smoothly.
The airplane refuses to shake and
rattle as the engine starts, proving that
everything about the Playmate is pret
ty solid and the po ly-fiber covering
eliminates the skin vibration noise
associated with light, all-metal air
planes.
"We can get out around that end
hangar ," says Stits, pointing to a gras
sypathway skirting the tails of a
couple of non-flyable airplanes .
Less than 1000 rpm eases the Play
mate along the path, around the end
of the hangar, across some more
bumpy grass and onto the bumpy
taxiway.
This air~ort isn't first class - far
from it - but it's a hotbed of home
builders, antiquers and seat-of-their
pants fliers who are super first-class
aviation boosters.
This is where it's at - sort of a
melting pot of aviation where flying is
17
 rust-love and eating regularly takes
second place in life.
Swing the down-swept cowling of
the SA-II A into the wind. Run the
engine up to IS00 rpm. Pull the
carburetor heat on. Power drops to
prove hot air is being sucked into the
venturi. Check the mags. Right has 7S
rpm drop and the left is almost identi
cal - smooth.
Trim control is a "slide rule" type
mounted on the panel just above the
Features of the Stits Playmate cockpit are the "u"
shaped control stick unit, brake handle in lower
center under edge of seat, slide type trim conn'ol just
to right and above radio. Panel contains no gyro
instrnments.
throttle. Takeoff position is marked
with an "N" for neutral.
Check for traffic and begin rolling.
Ease the throttle all the way in. Feel
the thrust of ISO hp. Acceleration is
faster than you remember from the
12S-hp version in November of 1967.
Despite the heat the airspeed needle
flicks past 60 mph in less than 400
feet. Ease back on the stick and NSK
is climbing, better than 1,000 fpm at
about 80 mph .
Back in 1967 we followed a Cessna
140 on takeoff, outcIimbed it, passed
18
it and came in for a touch-and-go
ahead of the little two-place trainer.
This time there is no playmate to
show off for so we cut out of the
traffic pattern, turning northeast for
open country along the Santa Ana
River.
Climb at 90 mph keeps the altim
eter winding at a steady pace, record
ing close to 900 fpm.
"Look out on the right side," says
Stits over the roar of air and the
Lycoming 0-320 engine. "That's got
8S hp but it's really light."
Scooting along a couple of hundred
feet from the Playmate is a bright
yellow Whittman Tailwind with slim,
boxy lines, pointed nose and fragile
appearing landing gear.
NSK levels off easily, requiring a
minimum of fussing with the trim
control. The nose drops into place just
below the almost-<>bscured horizon.
Airspeed increases to about lOS mph
indicated - about 118 mph true. At
8,SOO feet, optimum cruise is 138 mph.
Oops, there's the Tailwind again
frisky, banking into a turn, acting lik
it wants to play. Ught pressure on th
controls sends the Playmate into
steep turn away from the Tailwind. I
whips around to follow.
The Playmate responds quickly t l
commands for a right turn and then.
left puts the Playmate on the Tail
wind's tail as it makes a dash fo
home, calling the game quits.
Easing the Playmate's nose up an i
coming off on the power, the sta l
warning horn goes on at about 68 mpl
and it stalls just on the fast side of 61
mph.
Holding the stick all the way back
the airplane doesn't want to break . I
falls off some on the right win~
recovers by itself, falls off again an i
recovers while mushing, losing aW
tude.
Let the airplane go hands off and i
will do its own stall recovery, droppin
a couple of hundred feet, pulling up tl
regain the lost altitude.
The Playmate . is an airplane tha
feels like an airplane should. Th
control stick makes you feel as if yOI
are a part of the airplane.
The noise level lets you know tha
you are flying, but it isn't any highe
than many production airplanes an i
substantially less than a Maule Strata
Rocket.
Climbout and takeoff distances ar
superior with the I 50-hp engine in
stead of 12S hp, but cruising speed i
only up about 10 mph with the large
engine.
Stits believes that 150 horsepower i
the upper limi t for the airplane whe]
balancing performance against econ
omy. He sees 12S hp sufficient for th
type of airplane the Playmate wa
designed to be - a money saving spor
plane for weekend fun flying .
Turning toward the airport NS}
chews up the distance quickly, losin
altitude, dropping like a falcon int i
the traffic pattern, aiming for the tOI
of Mt. Rubidoux at 1,400 feet.
Stits likes to fly the Playmate at 8 :
mph in the pattern, setting up a rate 0
descent with power on fInal, comin:
over the fence at about 75 mph.
A fairly flat aPProach in the flaples
airplane makes for a better landin
with a minimum of flareout befor
touchdown at 60 mph. Stall speed i
59 mph.
The Playmate feels as if it is landin
hot, but just a slight amount of nose
high attitude allows the airplane tl
shed speed quickly.
Beginner's luck rides along on th
first lanqing, drawing a "good one
comment from Ray Stits. Second tim
around is a try for a steeper angle a
descent, ending in a slightly high flare
out and proof that a Playmate doesn'
float. The hot day lets the wheels
down quite solidly. The gear flexes
and the airplane refuses to bounce.
A third landing proves that with
minimum practice the average private
pilot should be able to land easily in
less than 1,000 feet and an expert
could do it in less than 500 feet.
Back at the hangar the wings folEl
quickly. Open a door on each side
behind the cowling. Pull a handle on
each side. That's it. The wings are
ready to fold. Grab a ring underneath
near the tip. Lift and push. It's almost
as quick and easy as the old slo
gan: "Push, pull - click, click
change blades that quick."
A snap-on locking device hooks the
wingtip to the vertical stabilizer on
each side and it is ready to park in a
garage.
The system is de~gned so the aile
rons, operated by push rods, connect
automatically in such a way that no
mistake or failure to connect is possi
ble when the wing is dropped into
place. If the doors covering the wing
release handle are closed, the wing
definitely is locked.
Although the folding wing system A simple three-point clamp secures the SA-llA
developed for the Playmate is similar, Playma te 's low wing to vertical fin for transit. The
it differs considerably from a canti ring at right locks the aileron. Center point holds the
lever wing-folding system newly pa wingtip and catch at left clips to the fin.
tented by Stits.
More Stits-designed homebuilt air
planes now are flying in the U.S. than Just below the release handle of Stits SA-llA is a
any other homebuilt design - about fairing where wing root mates to fuselage. Pushing the
500. As of mid-July, he had issued 170 handle forward secures the wing root with a high-.
serial numbers for Playmate SA-II A's. shear pin.
No . I is the prototype and four
projects have cancelled, leaving 165
active builders.
Ray Stits, 40ish, solid family man,
community leader for improved avia
tion facilities, is virtually a legend in
his own time.
A reformed aerial circus daredevil
who risked his life for a few postwar
dollars now rates as the nation's most
prolific home built airplane designer.
Shortly after World War II he de
signed the Stits-Bessler SA4 Playmate
that also was a folding-wing aircraft.
Since then he has sent the world's
smallest flyable biplane to the Smith
sonian Museum and created the Play
boy that long has been a favorite of
homebuilders, plus his type-cettifi
cated Skycoupe and a half-dozen
others.
Stits is one of the Experimental
Aircraft Association founders. Chapter
I of the association is at Rubidoux
Flabob Airport with William Six as
president.
Since Stits' activity in forming
Chapter I, the EAA has grown to 333
chapters. Nineteen of the chapters are
in Canada and one each in England,
Japan, Sweden, South Africa and West
Germany.

Key to operating the SA -11 A's folding-wing system is
a handle all each side of the fuselage just aft of the
cowling. Open the door, pull the handle and the wing
is ready to fold. When cover is closed, the wing
positively is locked.
But the Stits power in the home
built industry is about to end
temporarily. At the end of December,
1969, Ray Stits retires from the field.
No longer will he sell plans for his
homebuilt designs.
And so the SA-J 1 A may be the last
of the Stits line, an airplane that is the
exclamation point to a phase of a
career that pioneered in the art of
home building.
However, when the smog of indeci
sion clears and the piles of paperwork
diminish, Stits may be at it again .
What was that he said - something
about a flying wing as the most practi
cal light plane of the future?
20
In the air conditioned office of Stits
Aircraft Supplies , Ray admits that
getting out of the homebuilt aircraft
plane business is mostly a matter of
economics.
Plans for the SA-llA sell for $125.
The package of construction prints
weighs 16 pounds. With the prints goes
a 34-page manual, an index of draw
ings, parts list and a promise to help
anyone who needs it.
Increase of homebuilding also
means that more persons write letters
about how to solve construction prob
lems . Stits answers every letter with
detailed information. He estimates his
minimum cost is 55 per letter.
So the game of homebuilding
planes is bustling, becoming n
sophisticated, but not without piti
Another reason Stits gives for quit
home built design is his claim
many persons aren't playing fair.
Among designers who are tryin
advance the art and boost aviation
opportunists with glowing stories,
ing cheap plans that are virtu
worthless.
While Stits sits back to regroup
thoughts about aviation and hOI
building, he will be maintainin:
supply of Playmate components
five years, answering letters, sel
supplies and his FAA-approved pc
dope covering process.
Three SA-II A Playmates have b
completed by homebuilders. The fl
unofficial flight of a Playmate ot!
than the prototype was Serial No.
Henry C. Balcer, Jefferson C
Missouri, made the flight Septem
29, 1968. The first official flight \
October 13, 1968 by Jess Berk
Laramie, Wyoming. The third PI
mate flier is Frank W. McEntee, Al
erson, Indiana.
After meeting Ray Stits at the 19
Rock:ord fly-in, Balcer writes:
"Ray was a little doubtful tha1
beginner such as me could build
folding-wing design. I believe he f
that I would not produce a Playm
of which he could be proud.
"When I called him the day af
the test flight, I think he had chan~
his mind on that score. I am so plea~
with my airplane that sometimes I f
I will just burst with pride."
Balcer is a native of Poland w
immigrated to the United States
1949 with S50, speaking only a f
words of English.
Balcer built his Playmate in abc
2~ years. Stits estimates the aver<
homebuilder should be able to co
plete the job in 14 months to t,
years. Cost will vary from $2,500
about $4,000, depending on what ki
of an engine bargain the individl
builder happens to find.
Attempting to be honest about f
ing and homebuilding, Stits says if
brochure:
"The prospective builder should
finanCially able to support a hobby
this magnitude without affecting t
family budget.
"A person with a history of dT(
ping various projects after a D
months interest would very likely dr
an aircraft project before it is co
pleted."
For the relatively few and devo
homebuilding is a rewarding exp
ience as it was for Balcer.
But without help from the design
Balcer might have failed. Here's wI
he has to say :
"Ray Stits patiently answered my
many letters. I know that he must
have thrown his hands up in despera
tion at times . He will never know how
much his willingness to answer every
letter and help in getting parts and
such were appreciated."
That's three up and 163 to go for
the current crop of Playmate plans in
the hands of builders. How many will
make it is anybody's guess.
Now the sit uation is sort of like
"last call for dinner" or "all ashore
who's going ashore."
Several hundred persons in he
United States and foreign countries . - .
have discovered sport flying in the
Stits tradition from Flut-R-Bugs to
Playmates. And the future might hold
--
a Stits flying wing; however, December
is at least temporarily the end of the
line.
Now the chips are down. lJo~s
anyone want a Playmate before it's
too late?

FLIGHT REPORT
Prototype ' Stits SA-II A Folding
Wing Playmate. Plans, $125, Stits Air
craft, Box 3084, Riverside, California.
Construction cost, $2,500 to $4,000. Rocker mechanism on wing root (left) and fuselage
Project time, 14 months to two years. (right) mate when wing is locked down, forming
Licensed as "amateur built" aircraft. positive aileron linkage~
Gross weight, 1,500 lbs. Empty
weight, 886 lbs. Useful load, 614 Ibs . Nose gear fork and piston assembly is Stits-designed
Wing span, 27 ft., 5* in. Length, 18 for the Playmate. Unit is cadmium plated and uses
ft., 4~ in. Wing chord, 54 in. Wing rubber shock donuts.
area, 120 sq. ft. Height, 6 ft., 9 in .
Height folded, 6 ft., 11 in. Maximum
width folded, 8 ft. Cabin width, 39 in.
Fuel capacity, 24 gals. Engine, Lycom
ing 0-320, 150 hp. Propeller, Sense
nich M74DM58. Wheel size, 5:00 x 5,
4-ply.
Designed for Lycoming engines
from 100 to 150 hp. Loading sched
ule: Two 170-lb. persons, full fuel
(144 Ibs.) and 130 Ibs. baggage. Alter
nate: 3 persons and partial fuel de
pending on actual weight of all passen
gers. Maximum weight in aft area, 170
Ibs.
Performance with 150-hp engine at
gross weight and sea leve) condi
tions: Top speed, 132 mph (TAS);
Cruise speed (75 percent), 120 mph
(TAS); Optimum cru'ise (75 percent at
8,500 ft.), 138 mph (TAS);Maximum
(red line) speed, 140 mph (Ind.);
Service ceiling, over 17,500 ft.; StaJl
speed, 59 mph (TAS); Rate of climb,
1,625 fpm; Maximum range, 50 per
cent at 12,000 ft., 425 mph.; Takeoff
run (no wind), 310 ft.; Landing roll
(no Wind), 340 ft.