.: was the 3-blade prop white or black? If it was black, it was the USD$55K Hartzell claw, which is standard equipment on the S-2C and has been retrofitted to the S-2B.
If it was white (with red tips) it was likely the MT, which is available in the skinny 190cm diameter version (which meets Euro noise requirements, but performs poorly) and the improved 203cm diameter version, which performs virtually identical to the claw.
Which prop is fitted makes a tremendous difference to the performance of the aircraft.
With the 3-blade, you can tumble without breaking the crankshaft, or pounding the front bearings into the clamshells.
Here's some great fun: pull vertical, then as the speed decreases to 120 mph, put the stick in the front right corner (all the way - use both hands) and also apply full left rudder, leaving the power all the way on. You will experience something like this:
http://www.pittspecials.com/movies/solo_tumble.mpg
Of course, you want to be really comfortable with inverted spin and tailslide recovery to do this sort of stuff, because that's what always happens at the end.
The prop lever is weird, but is designed to worked with full dual controls in a tandem cockpit.
btw, I am not surprised you ran across a Pitts school in Holland - a friend of mine says that every time a Pitts in Canada starts it's engine, four Transport Inspectors rush into a room to figure out what they're going to do about it
The Pitts is a barrel of monkeys to land, isn't it? It's a bit twitchy after the tires touch, but the zero visibility out the front in the landing attitude is what bothers most pilots - if you can see the runway, you're not going to land on it!
btw, the 3-blade has awesome drag, making for some really run approaches:
1) fly downwind 1/4 mile from runway (close). Abeam numbers, power to idle. Bank 45 degrees and pitch down 45 degrees is required to make the runway, power-off. Continuous descending U, no more than 110 mph on base, 100 mph over the numbers. Time it so that you roll out just before you touch down. A slant final is a really good idea (see Budd Davisson). 3-point touchdown.
2) Straight in final. Wide open throttle. 200 mph until very short final Throttle to idle. 3-blade drag creates so much deceleration you will be tossed forward into the shoulder straps. Nose is down for visibility. Time is so that you are at 120 mph when the mains touch (wheel landing). Stick forward to keep the wheels up. This technique is preferred by the most experienced and very best airshow pilots such as Tucker, Leroy, Stewart and Cabanas.
You should get a Pitts, .. You don't need an expensive 2-seater, get a cheap S1S. Transport is certain to hate you for it, but you've already burned that bridge, you might as well enjoy what you're paying for!
