Avions Fairey Belfair
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| Belfair | |
|---|---|
| Type | Civil utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Avions Fairey |
| Designed by | Ernest Tips |
| Maiden flight | 11 November 1946 |
| Number built | 7 |
The Avions Fairey Belfair, also known as the Tipsy Belfair after its designer, Ernest Tips, was a two-seat light aircraft built in Belgium following World War II.
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[edit] Design and development
It was based on the Tipsy B built before the war, but featured a fully enclosed cabin. It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration with exceptionally clean lines. It was fitted with tailwheel undercarriage with spatted mainwheels.
The aircraft boasted splendid performance, twice breaking the world distance record for aircraft in its class (FAI class 1A - under 500 kg). The first of these flights was made by Albert van Cothem on 21 August 1950 and covered 945 km (589 miles). The second, made by P. Anderson on 3 August 1955 nearly trebled this to 2,635 km (1,643 miles). Both records were set in the same aircraft, construction number 533, registration OO-TIC.
Unfortunately, the Belfair was a victim of the glut of light aircraft on the market following World War II. The aircraft was priced at BEF 200,000, when war-surplus Piper Cubs and similar aircraft were selling for around BEF 30,000. Consequently, although six airframes past the prototype were under construction, only three had been completed when Tips made the decision that the aircraft was simply not commercially viable and sold the remaining airframes "as is". They were purchased by D. Heaton of Speeton, Yorkshire and completed in the UK. One of these aircraft (c/n 535, G-APIE) was still flying as of 2006, while another (c/n 536, G-APOD) was under restoration as of 2001.
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
- Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 12.0 m² (129 ft²)
- Empty weight: 245 kg (540 lb)
- Gross weight: 500 kg (1,100 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Walter Mikron II inverted inline, 46 kW (62 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 175 km/h (110 mph)
- Range: 750 km (470 miles)
- Service ceiling: 1,800 m (6,000 ft)
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 90.
- Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 387.
- Oliver Holmes photography
- The Ultimate Tipsy Site
[edit] See also
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