SIPA S.200 Minijet
Société Industrielle Pour l'Aéronautique · France · first flew 1952 · light aircraft
The SIPA S.200 Minijet was a pioneering French light jet aircraft that flew in 1952, making it one of the world's first light personal jet aircraft. Powered by a single Turbomeca Palas turbojet, it demonstrated that jet propulsion could be applied to very small aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.18 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- One of the earliest light jet aircraft
- Single Turbomeca Palas turbojet
- Side-by-side two-seat jet trainer/tourer
An extremely compact low-wing monoplane with side-by-side seating and a single jet exhaust beneath the fuselage, the Minijet's tiny dimensions and jet propulsion make it immediately distinctive among 1950s light aircraft.
Specifications
- The SIPA S.200 Minijet has a length of 5.18 m (17 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8 m (26 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 398 km/h (247 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 side-by-side.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by SIPA and first flown in 1952, the Minijet attracted considerable attention as a curiosity and proof of concept. The Turbomeca Palas engine was one of the smallest turbojets then available, and the Minijet showed it could sustain flight of a two-seat airframe.
Variants
The S.200 Minijet remained essentially a prototype demonstrator; no series production followed the initial aircraft.
Where you'll see it
The Minijet did not enter airline, military, or significant private service; it was used as a demonstrator and appeared at air shows in France during the early 1950s.
Related aircraft
- SIPA S.300
- SIPA S.1000 Coccinelle
- SIPA S.90
- Beecraft Honey Bee
- Brochet MB.60
- Canadair CT-133 Silver Star
- Caproni Trento F-5
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