Avions Fairey Junior
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=Tipsy Junior
|image=Tipsy Junior G-AMVP 1953.jpg
|caption=Tipsy Junior G-AMVP at a UK airshow in 1953
|type=Sports plane
|manufacturer=Avions Fairey
|designer=Ernest Oscar Tips
|first_flight=30 June 1947
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user=
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=2
|variants=
}}
The Avions Fairey Junior, also known as the Tipsy Junior was a single-seat light aircraft built in Belgium following World War II.
Development
The Junior was one of a series of light aircraft{{Harvnb|Taylor|1974|pages=39–44}} designed by and named after E.O.Tips of Fairey Aviation's Belgian subsidiary, Avions Fairey. Of wood and fabric construction, it was a conventional, low-wing monoplane with a tailwheel undercarriage and a single seat, open cockpit,{{Harvnb|Jackson|1960|page=448}} though there was the option of a bubble hood.{{cite magazine |title=Tipsy Junior: Advanced Performance of Diminutive Single-seater on 60 h.p. |magazine=Flight |date=31 July 1947 |page=115 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%201261.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305144900/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%201261.html |archive-date=5 March 2016}} The constant chord wings were almost square ended and the tailplane, fin and rudder also angular. Both completed aircraft were initially powered by the 36 hp (27 kW) Aeronca JAP J-99 engine, later replaced by the more powerful, 62 hp (46 kW) Walter Mikron 2.{{Harvnb|Taylor|1974|pages=44}}
The Junior, registered OO-TIT, flew for the first time on 30 June 1947 from Gosselies in Belgium.
Operational history
The first Junior was written off after a hard landing in 1948.
The second example (construction number J.111, registration OO-ULA) was bought by Fairey and taken to England in 1953, where it was registered as G-AMVP. In 1957, it was used in a publicity stunt when Fairey test pilot Peter Twiss landed it on the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. For part of its time it had the bubble canopy. Rebuilt after a long time in storage following a forced landing in 1993, it flew again late in 2006.[http://www.tipsy-histories.com/site/junior.htm The Ultimate Tipsy Site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929084617/http://www.tipsy-histories.com/site/junior.htm |date=September 29, 2007 }} It had a minor landing accident in 2008[http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/february_2009/avions_fairey_sa_tipsy_junior__g_amvp.cfm G-AMVP accident] but had a permit to fly until May 2009.[http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=AMVP CAA G-AMVP]
The Junior did not sell, and the third airframe was cancelled before completion.
It was purchased incomplete by Fairey in 1961 and has been under construction in the hands of a number of owners in the intervening years, but never finished.
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=British Civil Aircraft 1919-59 Vol.II.
|prime units?=met
|crew=1
|length m=5.65
|length note=
|span m=6.9
|span note=
|height m=1.48
|height note=
|wing area sqm=10.5
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=220
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=350
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Walter Mikron II
|eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine
|eng1 kw=46
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed pitch propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia note=
|max speed kmh=174
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=158
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=430
|range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=1800
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{commons category|Tipsy Junior}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |title=Fairey Aircraft since 1915 |last=Taylor |first=H.O. |year=1974 |publisher=Putnam Publishing |location=London |isbn= 0-370-00065-X }}
- {{cite book |title= British Civil Aircraft 1919-59 Vol.II |last=Jackson |first=A.J. |year=1960 |publisher=Putnam Publishing |location=London }}
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=90 }}
- {{cite book |last= Simpson |first= R. W. |title=Airlife's General Aviation |year=1995 |publisher=Airlife Publishing |location=Shrewsbury |pages=387 }}
{{refend}}
{{Fairey aircraft}}
Category:1940s Belgian sport aircraft