Choosing the Right Battery for Your Pitts S1S: My Top Pick

EnerSys J16 – Real-World Power for Aerobatic Aircraft

The electric power in my airplane isn’t theoretical.

It’s been tested.

EnerSys has supported Extreme Flight Airshows since 2024. I’ve run their batteries for years, and the one in my Pitts S-1S is the Hawker SBS J16.

Last year my alternator quit mid-flight. No warning. Just gone.

I shed load immediately and kept what mattered: comm, transponder, and essential navigation. I flew roughly 90 minutes on battery power alone. After landing, I still had enough reserve for one start on a hot, high-compression engine.

That was my configuration, my load, my airplane. Endurance will always depend on how a system is set up and managed.

The SBS J16 is a 12-volt thin-plate pure lead (TPPL) aviation battery designed for strong cranking performance, vibration resistance, and sealed operation. On paper, it delivers solid cold-cranking capability and reserve power.

In the airplane, it delivers consistency.

In high-energy solo aerobatics, electrical reliability matters. Radios. Transponder. Navigation. Even the smoke system.

People come for the noise and smoke. What they don’t see is the electrical system quietly doing its job while I’m pulling Gs. The smoke is dramatic. The power behind it is steady.

Aviation Battery Considerations for Homebuilt & Experimental Aircraft

If you’re evaluating aviation battery options for a homebuilt aircraft, experimental aircraft, or aerobatic platform, look beyond published amp-hour ratings.

Assess:

• Cold & hot cranking performance relative to your engine compression ratio

• Reserve capacity under real avionics load

• Vibration tolerance in aerobatic or high-G environments

• Manufacturer track record and aviation certification history

Search terms matter, but real-world performance matters more. When pilots research “best aviation battery for experimental aircraft,” “aerobatic aircraft battery,” or “12V aircraft battery for Pitts S-1S,” they’re looking for proven operational experience — not just specifications.

I can only speak for my airplane. In my Pitts, it’s been solid.

Power doesn’t headline an airshow performance.

But it supports every maneuver.