The Stits SA-3A Playboy is a single seat, strut-braced low-wing monoplane that was designed by Ray Stits for amateur construction. The aircraft was designed and the prototype was completed in a three-month period during 1952. The design went on to become one of the most influential in the post-war boom in aircraft home-building.

Stits SA-3A Playboy
Canada's first amateur-built aircraft Stitts SA-3A Playboy C-FRAD at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Role	Amateur-built aircraft
National origin	United States
Designer	Ray Stits
First flight	1952
Introduction	1952
Unit cost	approximately $1750 to build in 1971[1]
Variants	Van's Aircraft RV-3

The Playboy was the third of fifteen different aircraft designs created by Stits, who migrated in the 1960s from selling plans to developing the Polyfiber line of aircraft coverings and related paint formulas.

The Playboy was designed to be constructed from either plans or from a series of partial kits. The construction is mixed with the fuselage made from welded steel and the wings built from wood. The aircraft is fabric-covered and incorporates a sliding canopy. The aircraft is unusual in that the low wings are strut-braced.^[2]

The engine range is from 85 to 160 hp (63 to 119 kW) with the 85 hp (63 kW) Continental C85 the most commonly used.^[2]

The first in the series of Van's Aircraft was the Van's Aircraft RV-1 that was a modified Playboy and directly lead to the Van's Aircraft RV-3 and the highly successful RV line of aircraft.

British registered Stitts SA-3A Playboy

Stits SA-11A Playmate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Playmate
Stits SA-11A
Role	Home-built aircraft
National origin	United States
Designer	Ray Stits
Unit cost	approximately $3650 to build in 1971

The Stits SA-11A Playmate is a homebuilt aircraft design that features a rapid wing-folding mechanism for trailering or storage.^[2]

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1Design
• 2Operational history
• 3Specifications (SA-11A Playmate)
• 4See also
• 5References

Design

The SA-11A is a single engine, side-by-side configuration seating, tricycle gear, strut-braced, low wing monoplane. The fuselage is welded steel tubing with aircraft fabric covering. The wings have a quick release mechanism that allows them to fold and lock alongside the fuselage in 15–30 seconds. Safety mechanisms were put in place so pilots could visually inspect that the wings were locked in place. A small sideways seat in the rear can accommodate 150 lb (68 kg) of luggage or a light passenger

• Length: 18 ft 4 in (5.59 m)
• Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
• Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m²)
• Empty weight: 886 lb (402 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,500 lb (680 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 24 U.S. gallons (91 L; 20 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320 Horizontally opposed piston, 150 hp (110 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 115 kn; 212 km/h (132 mph)
• Cruise speed: 104 kn; 193 km/h (120 mph)Service ceiling: 17,500 ft (5,300 m)Rate of climb: 1,625 ft/min (8.26 m