SIPA Antilope

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Antilope
SIPA Antilope F-BJSS LBG 19.06.65 edited-2.jpg
The sole SIPA Antilope exhibited at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget in 1965
Role4/5 seat turboprop light aircraft
National origin France
Manufacturer SIPA
First flight7 November 1962
Statusstored in a private museum
Number built1

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.

Contents

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) Turbomeca 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 propeller 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 fromJane's All the World's Aircraft 1966-67 [1] (projected production variant S.2510, estimated at maximum takeoff weight).

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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.
  4. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Further reading