History Brief, by Johan Visschedijk Februar 11, 2004

SIPA S.901

Yves Gardan designed a two-seat monoplane for the Société Industrielle pour l’Aeronautique (SIPA) based at the suburb Suresnes, west of the center of Paris, France. Under the designation S.90, the aircraft was intended to fulfil the post-war need for a small sport and training aircraft. Powered by a 75 hp Mathis G4F engine the prototype F-WDVA made its first flight on June 15, 1947. The aircraft construction was of a wooden frame and fabric coverings, it was fitted with a sliding canopy and a fixed tailwheel undercarriage; three more were built. In 1947 the French government announced a contest for a light training aircraft to be built for use by the flying schools of the Service de l’Aviation Légère et Sportive (SALS). SIPA reacted to this opportunity by developing a S.90 with a more powerful engine and other refinements under the designation S.901. The first S.901 F-WDLV flew for the first time on June 25, 1948 but it was not tested enough in time for the SALS fly-off in July 1948, so SIPA entered the contest with a S.90 and emerged as winner, gaining an order for 100 aircraft. Subsequently these 100 aircraft were built in four versions: the S.901 through S.904, basically the same aircraft but with other engines (see Models below). When the S.901-S.904 production came to an end SIPA changed the construction method and the new series S.91 to S.94 had the fabric coverings replaced by plywood. This alteration did not bring further orders and the production of the S.90 series ended in 1951. S.901 Jacques Trempe Collection Specifications Type: Low-wing two-seat sport and trainer aircraft Engine: One 75 hp Minié 4DC-32 engine Span: 28 ft 8.5 in (8.75 m) Length: 18 ft 10.75 in (5.76 m) Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m) Wing area: 120.56 sq.ft (11.2 sq.m) Empty Wt: 807 lb (366 kg) Max T/O Wt: 1,323 lb (600 kg) Max speed: 124 mph (200 km/h) at sea level Max climb: 492 ft (150 m)/min Ceiling: 13,123 ft (4,000 m) Range: 311 mls (500 km) Models S.90: Initial model; 4 built S.901: S.90 with 75 hp Minié 4DC-32 engine S.902: S.90 with 85 hp Continental C85-12F engine S.903: S.90 with 90 hp Continental C90-14F engine S.904: S.90 with 75 hp Salmon 5AQ-01 radial engine S.91: S.90 with wings and fuselage covered by plywood; with 85 hp Continental C85-12F engine; 2 built S.92: S.90 with wings and fuselage covered by plywood; with 85 hp Mathis 4GB-62 engine; 1 built S.93: S.90 with wings and fuselage covered by plywood; with 75 hp Salmon 5AQ-01 radial engine; 1 built S.94: S.90 with wings and fuselage covered by plywood; with 90 hp Continental C90-14F engine; 5 built