SIPA Antilope

Antilope
The sole SIPA Antilope exhibited at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget in 1965
Role 4/5 seat turboprop light aircraft
National origin France
Manufacturer SIPA
First flight 7 November 1962
Status stored in a private museum
Number built 1


The SIPA S.251 Antilope was a low-wing monoplane, seating four or five and powered by a single turboprop engine, developed in France in the early 1960s. It set a number of class records but was not put into production.

Design and development

The Antilope was one of the first turboprop powered light aircraft. Apart from its engine, it was a conventional all-metal low-wing machine. The cantilever wing was built around two spars and was a semi-monocoque structure, carrying unslotted ailerons and electrically powered, single slot Fowler flaps. The fuselage was also of semi-monocoque construction. The tail unit included a variable incidence tailplane and a rudder with a trim tab.[1]

It had an electrically actuated tricycle undercarriage, the main wheels retracting inwards into the wings. The cabin had seats for four or five, two at the front and a bench seat behind. In a proposed air ambulance configuration, the Antilope would have carried two stretchers and a medic. Access to the cabin was via a large rear hinged door on the starboard side.[1]

The Antilope was powered by a 665 hp (495 kW) Turboméca Astazou X driving a 3-bladed propeller, on a long spinner, well ahead of the surrounding air intake.[1]

It first flew on 7 November 1962 and gained certification in April 1964. That autumn, P. Bonneau set six international Class C1c (1000 - 1750 kg) records with it, achieving for example a speed of 432.9 km/h (267 mph) over a 3 km course and reaching an altitude of 10,420 m (34,186 ft). Early in 1965 it flew with a four-bladed propeller and improved on one of its own records. A three-blade propellor was re-installed and the aircraft was exhibited at the 1965 Paris Air Show wearing registration F-BJSS. By mid 1966 development had been completed without a decision to commence production.[1] The production version would have been known as the SIPA S.2510 Antilope but none were built; the prototype (F-WJSS) carried the designation S.251 on its fin.[2]

The sole Antilope is undergoing restoration in a private museum, owned by the Association Antilope, at Montpelier-Mediterranee Airport, in southern France.[3]


Specifications (S.2510)

Data from [1] (projected production variant S.2510, estimated at maximum take off weight)

General characteristics

Performance


References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Taylor, John W R (1966). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1966-67. London: Sampson Low, Marston &Co. Ltd. pp. 56–7.
  2. ↑ "S.I.P.A. S-2510 'Antilope'". Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  3. ↑ Ogden, Bob (2006). Aviation Museums and Collections of Mainland Europe. pp. 121–122. ISBN 0-85130-375-7.