Sipa S200 Minijet (oz16075)

About this Plan

Sipa S200 Minijet. Radio control scale model for electric power. Pusher prop layout. Wingspan 36 in.

Plan is in vectorPDF format.

Note this plan was posted online as a free download by the designer himself. See more details on the build thread here: https://forums.modelflying.co.uk/index.php?/topic/49676-sipa-s-200-v32-a-scale-mini-jet/

Also video showing full build at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ics9BGQ7vKQ&t=975s

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Note it seems this design was also published as a free plan in RCME, Jun 2015.

Update 9/6/2025: Added article, thanks to Eric.

Quote: "For those not fortunate enough to have met the Minijet,” wrote John Stroud, reporting for Flight magazine in October 1953, “one should perhaps offer some information on this type, which has something like half the performance of the Vampire for only a tenth of its power.” Designed by Yves Gardan, the twin-boom SIPA S.200 Minijet was fi rst shown at the International Aeronautical Salon, Paris in 1951, the year before its maiden fl ight. While Flight described the concept as novel but of relatively small account, when Stroud finally managed to bag a ride he enthused about the little jet, which he called ‘a delightful aeroplane’.

The first prototype had a span of just 23ft (increased to 26ft 2in on the second aircraft), was just 17ft long, and weighed only 1675 lbs. Powered - or underpowered, it was said - by a single Turbomeca Palas I engine that was fed, Vampire-fashion, from wing-root intakes and which produced 330 lbs of thrust (350 lbs in later versions), the fully aerobatic Minijet nonetheless had a maximum speed of 216kt while the wing’s laminar profile stalled at just 55kt; it would cruise of 195kt, and had a range of 311 miles, though this was later extended by the addition of wingtip tanks.

Stroud’s report went on to say, in a regretful tone, that, “the problem is what to do with it?” The French manufacturer, Société Industrielle Pour l’Aéronautique, had hopes for a jet-transition training or high-speed liaison military role, but as Stroud observed: the French Air Force was almost certain to order the larger Fleuret or Fouga Magister – in the event it bought the Magister – and this would rule out French military service for the Minijet. Cost largely eliminated private operation, but negotiations were underway which might have resulted in assembly in Holland of about 100 aircraft, while there was interest in Brazilian production.

Unfortunately, SIPA’s hopes for the Minijet were unrealised: just two prototypes and five pre-production aircraft were built, and the 200’s delights were indeed confined to the lucky few – until now, anyway.

As soon as I saw the 200’s mini- Vampire shape, I decided to model it, keeping as close to scale as possible albeit using a pusher prop rather than an EDF or jet. Despite its seeming complications, the Minijet is a relatively easy build, one to which you can add as much or as little detail as you choose.

TAILPLANE AND BOOMS: You’ll find that the plan is complemented by plenty of build information on the https://forums.modelflying.co.uk/ site (just pop SIPA in the search box), so I will keep these construction notes short; besides, I doubt you’ll encounter any great challenges along the way.

Start by cutting the tailplane from 3/32 sheet, and fitting the 1mm carbon stiffening rods to the elevator where indicated. The control horn is made from 1/16 ply; you can fit a proprietary one if you prefer, but bear in mind that the elevator’s size gives it plenty of authority, so you need a horn of reasonable length to accurately translate servo travel into small, controlled movements.

The rudders are made in the same way as the elevator and can either be mounted centrally on the booms – which makes for a more scale-like appearance – or fitted to the outside of booms which makes them easier both to jig up and repair if they become damaged. Frankly, however, I don’t use the rudders when I’m flying the Minijet, so you could do away with their servos and snakes and fit fixed rudders instead.

The booms themselves are built up from two 1/16 sides and 1/4 sq medium balsa, ensuring that the snakes will run where indicated as they need to enter the boom from the trailing edge of the wing, and exit on the inside in order to pass under the tailplane and connect to the control horns..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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