Stits "Playboy"
Model Airplane News Cover Art for December, 1967
by Jo Kotula
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Ray Stits designed the SA-3A Playboy in 1952 and completed the prototype in less than three months. After testing and modifying, After a series of successful demonstrations, Ray sold plans for the airplane. The Playboy was a very popular early design and some say that it is responsible for the "homebuilt aircraft" boom of the 1950s.

  

Photos of the Stits "Playboy"
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The fuselage was constructed of chromoly tubing and was covered with fabric. The wings were made of spruce spars, wood ribs, and were also fabric covered. The prototype SA-3A was powered by an 85 hp Continental engine.

In 1955, Ray sold the prototype SA-3A to finance the next of his (eventual) fifteen designs. The airplane had a number of subsequent owners. Eventually, it came back Ray Stits for restoration to its original configuration including the original red and white sunburst color scheme. After restoration, it was donated to the EAA AirVenture Museum in 1973.

Here is a video of the Stits "Playboy" in action:

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