Origin
The award was conceived by Carl F. Bury and donated by Aviat Aircraft of Afton, Wyoming.

Criteria
Presented to the pilot at the IAC Championships who scores the highest percentage of possible points during that year's competition. It is open to all categories.

Procedures
The name of the recipient is provided the Contest Director by the Scoring Director after the contest is completed. The recipient's plaque is ordered by the Executive Director along with the other trophies for the CoTA. No name is inscribed.

Presentation
Recipient trophies are funded by IAC and consist of a laser cut plaque with a photograph of the permanent trophy set in the plaque. The master trophy remains on display at the IAC Pavilion in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The plaque is presented at the IAC Championships annual awards banquet each year.

THE PITTS CUP - CHRONOLOGY OF RECIPIENTS

1977 - Henry Haigh
1978 - Lew Shattuck & Jerry Spear
1979 - Kermit Weeks
1980 - Adrienne Applegarth
1981 - Dennis Sawyer
1982 - Mike Sharp
1983 - Henry Haigh
1984 - Clint McHenry
1985 - Henry Haigh
1986 - Mike Stauter
1987 - Gerry Zimmerman
1988 - Charlie Seiferd
1989 - Bill Finagin

1990 - Bill Finagin
1991 - Gerry Molidor
1992 - Linda Meyers
1993 - Gerry Molidor
1994 - Fred DeLacerda
1995 - Phillip Knight - 86.16%
1996 - Eric Haagenson - 87.65%
1997 - Miles Merritt - 86.25%
1998 - Mike Vaughan - 85.63%
1999 - Clyde Cable - 85.99% 
2000 - Bob Sweginnis - 85.43%