The Pilot

Yuichi Takagi is an internationally respected aerobatic pilot whose career bridges elite competition flying, professional instruction, aircraft maintenance, and airshow performance. Born and raised in Japan, Takagi discovered aviation early and made his first flight lesson in 1992. Driven by a desire to pursue aerobatics at the highest level, he later moved to the United States, where he built an extensive and multifaceted aviation career.

Takagi has accumulated over 8,000 total flight hours, flying professionally as a flight instructor, cargo pilot, traffic‑watch pilot, and aerobatic performer. He is also a FAA‑certified Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic, giving him a deep technical understanding of aircraft performance, structure, and safety—an expertise that directly informs his precise flying style.

In addition to airshows, Takagi is a seasoned Unlimited‑level aerobatic competitor, regularly flying against the world’s best pilots. He has competed in U.S. National Aerobatic Championships and international events, and notably remains one of the very few pilots competing in the Unlimited category with a Pitts biplane, rather than a modern monoplane. In 2024, he placed second in the prestigious 4‑Minute Free program at the U.S. Nationals, an achievement underscoring both technical mastery and competitive relevance at the highest level.

Beyond the cockpit, Takagi serves as an aerobatic judge for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), and has acted as a chief judge and instructor for the Japan Sport Aerobatic Club. Through instruction, judging, and performance, he has become a key figure linking the international aerobatic community across continents.

Takagi founded REDFOX Airshows in 2012, bringing a distinctive blend of precision, grace, and intensity to airshows across North America and Japan. His routines emphasize smooth transitions, exact geometry, and controlled energy rather than purely aggressive motion—making his performances equally admired by seasoned aerobatic pilots and first‑time spectators.

The Airplane: Pitts Special S‑2S

Yuichi Takagi flies a meticulously prepared Pitts Special S‑2S, one of the most iconic and respected aerobatic biplanes ever built. While the Pitts design dates back decades, Takagi’s aircraft represents the pinnacle of modern refinement applied to a classic airframe.

The S‑2S features a reinforced fuselage engineered to withstand extreme aerobatic G‑loads, allowing for sustained negative‑G maneuvers, snaps, and vertical transitions. Central to its performance is the WolfPitts Wing, designed by renowned aerobatic engineer Steve Wolf. This wing incorporates oversized ailerons on the main wings, dramatically increasing roll rate and control authority—key for precision aerobatics and competition‑level sequences.

Power comes from a Lycoming AEIO‑540‑D4A5 engine, professionally tuned by Ly‑Con Aircraft Engines to produce approximately 330 horsepower. This high‑output aerobatic engine delivers immediate throttle response and strong vertical performance, crucial for hammerheads, tailslides, and sustained vertical climbs.

The aircraft is fitted with an MT‑Propeller MTV‑9‑B‑C constant‑speed propeller featuring wide‑chord blades, maximizing thrust across a wide range of airspeeds while maintaining smooth power delivery and reliability throughout aggressive maneuvers.

Visually, Takagi’s Pitts stands out with its classic red‑and‑white livery, rounded wingtips, and unmistakable biplane silhouette. While modern monoplane aerobatic aircraft may dominate competition fields, the Pitts Special remains a fan favorite—celebrated for its raw mechanical feel, compact energy, and unmistakable aerobatic heritage.

Visit Website.