SIPA
A French subcontractor forced to build a German trainer under occupation turned it into the post-war air force’s workhorse, then flew one of the world’s first jet-powered light touring aircraft.
SIPA: the company and the aircraft that made its name
Parts maker in an occupied country
SIPA was founded in 1938 and spent its first years as a subcontractor, making parts for other French manufacturers such as ANF Les Mureaux and Loire. Under the occupation it was requisitioned to work for Arado, and in 1943 it was ordered to build three prototypes and 25 pre-series examples of the Ar 396, a wooden, low-strategic-material derivative of the Ar 96 trainer. Even the famous designer Émile Dewoitine set up a design office for SIPA in October 1941.
An Arado for France
Liberation turned the German project into a French one. As the SIPA S.10, S.11 and all-metal S.12, the design became a standard Armée de l’Air trainer, 188 of all versions being built until 1958; armed S.11s flew ground-attack missions in Algeria. In 1947 Yves Gardan’s S.90 won a government competition for a two-seat aero club aircraft, and the state ordered 100 of the S.901 version for French flying clubs.
The Minijet
Gardan then designed SIPA’s most daring aircraft. The twin-boom S.200 Minijet, powered by a small Turbomeca Palas turbojet, first flew on 14 January 1952 and was claimed as the first jet-powered light touring aircraft. A general-aviation slump meant only seven were built. SIPA carried on in smaller ways, including the S.1000 Coccinelle of 1956–57, until Aerospatiale absorbed it in 1975.
SIPA in numbers
The company
- In short
- Founded 1938
- Started as a parts subcontractor
- Requisitioned for Arado during the occupation
- Absorbed by Aerospatiale in 1975
Production
- Best known for
- SIPA S.11/S.12
- S.10/S.11/S.12 trainers: 188 built to 1958
- S.90 family: 113 built
- S.200 Minijet: 7 built
Today
- Now
- Merged into Aerospatiale, 1975
- Aerospatiale is now part of Airbus
A re-engined Minijet was still flying in 2006.
The numbers
- S.10/S.11/S.12 built
- 188to 1958
- S.90 family built
- 113
- S.200 Minijet built
- 7
Every notable SIPA aircraft
| Aircraft | Role | First flight | Built | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arado Ar 396 / SIPA S.10 | Advanced trainer | Retired | Wooden Ar 96 derivative ordered from SIPA in 1943 | ||
| SIPA S.11 | Armed trainer | 50 | Retired | Renault 12S engine; used in Algeria | |
| SIPA S.12 | Trainer (all-metal) | 52 | Retired | ||
| SIPA S.90 / S.901 | Two-seat light aircraft | 1947 | 113 | Retired | Designed by Yves Gardan for French aero clubs |
| SIPA S.200 Minijet | Light jet tourer / trainer | 1952 | 7 | Retired | Turbomeca Palas turbojet; twin booms |
| SIPA S.1000 Coccinelle | Light aircraft | Retired | Built in small numbers |
Where SIPA built, who led it, what it achieved
People
- Georges Volland · founder (per French sources)
- Émile Dewoitine · designer — Set up a SIPA design office in October 1941
- Yves Gardan · designer — S.90 and S.200 Minijet
Records and firsts
- S.200 Minijet: claimed first jet-powered light touring aircraft, 1952
SIPA, year by year
SIPA founded
Dewoitine sets up a design office for SIPA
Ordered to build Ar 396 prototypes and pre-series
S.90 first flight; wins aero club competition
Minijet shown at the Paris Air Show
S.200 Minijet first flight
Last S.10-series trainers built
Absorbed by Aerospatiale
Before and after SIPA
Everything people ask about SIPA
What does SIPA stand for?
What was the SIPA Minijet?
Was the SIPA S.11 a German design?
What happened to SIPA?
Around SIPA
Every fact, checked
Verified 2026-10-03.