The Avions Fairey Belfair, also known as the Tipsy Belfair after its designer, Ernest Oscar Tips, was a two-seat light aircraft built in Belgium following World War II.
The Belfair was based on the Tipsy B built before the war, but featured a fully enclosed cabin. It was a low-wing cantilevermonoplane 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 (587 mi). The second, made by P. Anderson on 3 August 1955 nearly trebled this to 2,635 km (1,637 mi). 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.[citation needed] 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, with a further aircraft converted from a prewar Tipsy Trainer to the same standard.[1] One of these aircraft (c/n 535, G-APIE, ex OO-TIE) was still flying in 2015, while another (c/n 536, G-APOD) was under restoration as of 2001.
Specificationsedit
Data from Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52[2]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Height: 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 12 m2 (130 sq ft)
Empty weight: 245 kg (540 lb)
Gross weight: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
Fuel capacity: 60 L (13 imp gal; 16 US gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Walter Mikron II air-cooled four-cylinder inverted inline engine, 46 kW (62 hp)
avions, fairey, belfair, also, known, tipsy, belfair, after, designer, ernest, oscar, tips, seat, light, aircraft, built, belgium, following, world, tipsy, belfairtipsy, belfair, apie, coventry, airport, 1999role, civil, utility, aircraftmanufacturer, avions, . The Avions Fairey Belfair also known as the Tipsy Belfair after its designer Ernest Oscar Tips was a two seat light aircraft built in Belgium following World War II Tipsy BelfairTipsy Belfair G APIE at Coventry Airport in 1999Role Civil utility aircraftManufacturer Avions FaireyDesigner Ernest Oscar TipsFirst flight 11 November 1946Number built 7 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesDesign and development editThe Belfair 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 587 mi The second made by P Anderson on 3 August 1955 nearly trebled this to 2 635 km 1 637 mi 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 citation needed 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 with a further aircraft converted from a prewar Tipsy Trainer to the same standard 1 One of these aircraft c n 535 G APIE ex OO TIE was still flying in 2015 while another c n 536 G APOD was under restoration as of 2001 Specifications editData from Janes s All The World s Aircraft 1951 52 2 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 6 60 m 21 ft 8 in Wingspan 9 50 m 31 ft 2 in Height 6 60 m 21 ft 8 in Wing area 12 m2 130 sq ft Empty weight 245 kg 540 lb Gross weight 500 kg 1 102 lb Fuel capacity 60 L 13 imp gal 16 US gal Powerplant 1 Walter Mikron II air cooled four cylinder inverted inline engine 46 kW 62 hp Performance Maximum speed 177 km h 110 mph 96 kn Cruise speed 160 km h 99 mph 86 kn Stall speed 60 km h 37 mph 32 kn Range 750 km 470 mi 400 nmi Service ceiling 6 000 m 20 000 ft Rate of climb 2 5 m s 500 ft min See also editRelated development Tipsy BNotes edit Jackson 1988 p 200 Bridgman 1951 p 11c References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tipsy Belfair Bridgman Leonard 1951 Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1951 52 London Sampson Low Marston amp Company Ltd Jackson A J 1988 British Civil Aircraft 1919 1972 Volume III London Putnam ISBN 0 85177 818 6 Simpson R W 1995 Airlife s General Aviation Shrewsbury Airlife Publishing p 387 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 90 Oliver Holmes photography permanent dead link The Ultimate Tipsy Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avions Fairey Belfair amp oldid 987403255, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
