Avions Fairey Belfair

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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.

Design and development

The 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 Script error: No such module "convert".. The second, made by P. Anderson on 3 August 1955 nearly trebled this to Script error: No such module "convert".. 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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 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

Data from Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52[2]

General characteristics

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See also

Related development

Notes

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  1. ↑ Jackson 1988, p. 200.
  2. ↑ Bridgman 1951, p. 11c.

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References

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  • Oliver Holmes photographyScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
  • The Ultimate Tipsy Site

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