Société Industrielle Pour l’Aéronautique
SIPA S.1100
The SIPA S.1100 was a light, two‑seat trainer produced in the early 1950s by the French firm Société Industrielle Pour l’Aéronautique (SIPA). Conceived to replace ageing biplane trainers in the French Air Force, the S.1100 first flew on 12 March 1953 and entered limited service the following year. Its airframe combined a low‑wing monoplane layout with a semi‑monocoque fuselage of aluminum alloy, giving a clean aerodynamic profile and ease of maintenance. Powered by a 180 hp Régnier 4D‑2 air‑cooled inverted V‑four engine, the aircraft could reach 225 km/h and featured a fixed, spatted undercarriage, dual controls, and a simple blind‑flight instrumentation suite that made it ideal for primary and advanced instruction. Though only 36 units were built before production ceased in 1956, the S.1100 demonstrated the shift in post‑war French training doctrine toward more modern, all‑metal monoplanes. Its handling characteristics influenced later SIPA designs, such as the S.2000 series, and the aircraft remains a valued example of mid‑century European trainer development, often displayed in aviation museums as a symbol of France’s rapid post‑war aeronautical revival. It also served briefly with several civilian aero clubs, providing affordable pilot training and contributing to the growth of post‑war general aviation in France.
No images available
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1958