SIPA S.12

 

Considering the operating experience of the SIPA S.10 and SIPA S.11 (and S.111) all-wooden aircraft, SIPA (Société Industrielle Por l'Aéronautique - Industrial Company for Aeronautics) decided to return to the all-metal aircraft construction. The new version of the aircraft, a more refined and improved version of the previous S.11, was given the denomination of SIPA S.12 and, as the metallic fuselage made the aircraft heavier, a new and more powerful engine was installed. The selected powerplant was a single SNECMA 12S-02 engine which could deliver up to 600 hp of power. 

The armed variant of the S.12, named S.12A, retained the same armament as the S.11A (two MAC 34/39 machine guns in the nose plus underwing pylons for up to 100 kg (220 lb) in bombs or various MATRA T10 unguided rockets. 

The S.12 entered production in 1951 and a total of 52 machines of this and the S.12A (the armed one) type were produced. Some years later, in 1954, an identical, albeit lighter version was created, the S.121, featuring a lighter design and armament. On this new sub-variant, 58 machines were built making a total of 110 SIPA S.12 of every variant having been built. 

Some SIPA S.12, S.12A and S.121 were used by the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) in the Algerian War in various roles such as reconnaissance, fire spotters and close support aircraft. They were also used as armed trainers in the various Armée de l'Air's flying schools until the early 1960s when they were replaced, in the trainer role by the jet-powered Fouga Magister. However, in 1968 the Centré d'Essais en Vol (Flight Test Centre - French Air Force's experimental unit) still had an S.121 in active which was used as a trainer or fast liaison aircraft. 

Sources:

1. http://www.airwar.ru/enc/other/s12.html (translated)

2. http://www.aviastar.org/air/france/sipa_s-12.php

3. https://www.avionslegendaires.net/avion-militaire/sipa-s-10-s-12/ (translated)

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arado_Ar_96