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Conceived by Ernest Oscar Tips, managing director of Avions Fairey SA, whose other creations included the Tipsy Junior, Trainer and Belfair, the prototype Nipper, produced by Tipsy, was powered by a 26-horsepower engine, first flew in February 1959. Nipper production by Avions Fairey commenced almost immediately and the first production aircraft, powered by a larger capacity Volkswagen automotive engine and designated T66 Mk.II, flew later the same year.

Avions Fairey produced the Nipper in both fly-away and kit forms, the latter aimed at the developing amateur constructor market. However, it is not known how many units the company built. Construction numbers which are usually a reliable indication of production figures suggest at least eighty Nippers came off the company’s Gosselies production line before manufacturing rights were transferred to Coblevia in 1961, another Belgium company. Coblevia, after some design changes, produced aircraft marketed as the Coblevia Nipper III.

 

 

In June 1966 manufacturing rights to the Nipper were purchased by an English company Nipper Aircraft Ltd and a deal was negotiated with Slingsby to produce the aircraft at its Kirbymoorside glider factory. These aircraft were marketed by Nipper Aircraft in three variants. The Nipper Mk.III powered by a 1500cc Rollason Ardem (converted VW auto engine), the Mk.IIIA fitted with a 1600cc Rollason Ardem and the Mk.IIIB kitset intended for amateur construction.

 

Slingsby Tipsy Nipper

Thirty-three Nippers were produced by Slingsby before production ceased toward the end of 1969.
Acro Engines and Aeroframes, the company run by contest pilot Barry Smith, using his own Volkswagen engine conversion, with fuel injection and inverted fuel and oil systems, aerobats a relatively old lightweight design, the Tipsy Nipper.

After liquidation of Nipper Aircraft in May 1971 Nipper Kits and Components Ltd. was formed to support existing aircraft, and continued to market the aircraft in Mk III form as plans and some components. In 1998 the Nipper was still being marketed by Nipper Kits & Components.

 

 

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