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Yves Gardan's career was closely tied in with the Société Industrielle Pour l'Aéronautique in the early stages, and that has already been discussed in the dedicated SIPA thread. However, Gardan continued to design and build aircraft after he left that company, so it's important to dedicate a separate topic to his works and their designations. First of all, I'd like to underline the fact that I've chosen hyphens [-] as separators for the designations, although their use (or lack thereof) varies widely depending on the source.
Aircraft developed by Yves Gardan while working for SIPA:
Aircraft developed by Yves Gardan after departing SIPA:
Aircraft developed by Yves Gardan under SITAR:
Later aircraft developed by Yves Gardan:
Various other types related to Yves Gardan:
Aircraft developed by Yves Gardan while working for SIPA:
- GY-10 (1947) — Two-seat low-wing cabin monoplane derived from early "J3" study.
Gardan designation for SIPA 90 series (107 built of all versions, see under SIPA).
GY-20 "Minicab" (1949) — Two-seat low-wing cabin monoplane developed from SIPA S.90 series; initially to be called "Babyclub".
Also known as the SIPA S.100 but designation rarely used as this was produced by Constructions Aéronautiques du Béarn (CAB).
GY-201 "Minicab" (1950) — Improved version of above.- GY-201-90 "Minicab" — Several examples fitted with the more powerful Continental C90 engine of the GY 30.
A 204 "Minicab" — No data, an amateur-built "Minicab" similar to GY-201 (designation appears on a tail).
GY-21 "Minicab" — At least one example found of this amateur-built version.
>> It is worthy to mention that more "Minicabs" were produced in the United States by Falconar, under the names "Minicab Hawk", "Minihawk" and "Hawk". Another American version named the "Cavalier" was produced under different company names: MacFam, K&S and Squarecraft.
GY-30 "Supercab" (1954) — Further development of GY-20 with 90 hp Continental C90 engine, greater wingspan, manually retractable undercarriage and slotted flaps.
Three prototypes produced [F-WEPO > F-BEPO > G-BFIS, n° 01], [F-BHEM > G-BHLZ, n° 02] and [F-BHEN, n° 03].
Three production models produced [F-BFOV, n°1], [F-BBIP, n° 2] and [F-BHED, n°3].
GY-301 "Supercab" — No details, only one example produced [F-BDVF, n° 4].
GY-40 "Minijet" (1952) — Two-seat twin-boom trainer/liaison aircraft with one 150 kgp Turbomeca "Palas" jet engine, better known as the SIPA S.200.
Two prototypes produced, including [F-WCZR] and five production examples, including [F-PDHE]. One to the US as [N917WJ], disguised as a British "Vampire".
GY-50 (1954) — Tandem-seat primary trainer with one 160 kgp Turbomeca "Palas" jet engine ("Super Palas" and "Aspin" II also considered). Only one prototype [F-WGVR, n° 01] which crashed, leading to the cancellation of the type. Better known as the SIPA S.300 R. The SIPA S.300 M being the initial project powered by one Salmson AS 04 piston engine in pusher position, not proceeded with. A second example (S.300 R-02) was supposed to be powered by one 400 kgp Turbomeca "Marboré" II jet engine, but was canceled.
GY-60 "Coccinelle" (1956) — Two-seat civil utility plane with 90 hp Continental C-90-8F (65 hp Continental A-65 also possible). Two protoypes constructed [F-WHHL > PHHL/BHHL n°01] and [F-WHHO, n°02]. Also known as the SIPA S.1000. A third example was sold to Argentina and completed by Javier Tortorella and Ricardo Siegerist in 2002 [LV-GFG].
GY-70 (1958) — Three-seat observation, ground attack and COIN aircraft powered by two 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 "Wasp" 9 engines.
Two prototypes were constructed, but only the first one [F-ZWVK, n° 01] was flown, the second one being used as a ground target. Better known as the SIPA S.1100.
>> Besides these, Gardan also designed the SIPA S.700/S.710 tailsitter fighter projects and the S.800/801 ground attack and light bomber jet aircraft projects.
Aircraft developed by Yves Gardan after departing SIPA:
- SERA 01-A (1959) — A planned tandem-wing cabin pusher with 90+ hp engine, designed for the Société d'Études et de Réalisations Aéronautiques.
- GY-100 (1959) — A planned scaled-down and simplified derivative of the GY-40/S.200 "Minijet" (65 or 90 hp depending on sources).
>> These two aircraft were designed in response to a tender from SFASA aiming at an affordable popular airplane. The SERA project arrived first, followed by the RAC HM 370 and then the GY 100, while the Morane-Saulnier MS.880 (later known as the "Rallye") only made it to eighth (despite being the real winner in the long run)!
GY-80 "Horizon" (1960) – A modern-looking four-seater cabin airplane with a choice of 150, 160 or 180 hp Avco Lycoming engines, under the respective designations GY 80-150/D, GY-80-160/D and GY 80-180. Seven prototypes were built, the first one by Gardan [F-WJDU > F-BJDU, n°01] corresponding to the later GY 80-150 version. Then came four GY 80-160 prototypes [HB-DUZ, n°02], [F-WLID, n° 03] [???, n°04] and [F-BLIH, n°05]. Finally, two GY 80-180 followed [F-BLPM, n° 06] and [F-BLKU, n° 07]. The production license for the "Horizon" was acquired by Sud-Aviation's SOCATA branch, which produced 272 aircraft altogether until 1969, minus the first prototype.
GH-80 "Horizon" (1979) was a GY-80 specially modified by René Hirsch and Yves Gardan to test the same gust-absorbing technology already tried on the early Hirsch H-100 and later on the SOCATA TBH-20. It was registered as [F-WREI].
Aircraft developed by Yves Gardan under SITAR:
In the mid-sixties, Yves Gardan decided to produce new designs that may be purchased by homebuilders in the form of plans from a company named SITAR. They carried the names of characters from Rudyard Kypling's famous Jungle Book, which had just been turned into a movie cartoon by Walt Disney in 1967.
- GY-100 "Bagheera" (1967) — A four-seat trainer and tourism aircraft powered by a 115 hp Lycoming O-235-C engine.
This prototype [F-WOFO > F-BOFO, n°01] is clearly inspired by the Piper PA-28 "Cherokee". Two main versions are considered: the GY-100-115, and the GY-100-135. After the crash of the prototype (when its pilot bailed out), only one example of the latter will be produced in 1970: [F-WRGA > F-BRGN, c/n 1] with an Avco Lycoming engine.
GY-90 "Mowgli" (late 60s) — A smaller, all-metal derivative of the GY-100 with either a 90 hp or a 100 hp Continental engine. No example was built.
GY-110 "Sher Khan" (late 60s) — A larger version of the GY-100 with deeper cabin and additional windows, and an undetermined 250 hp engine. Although announced for 1969, none was built either.
Later aircraft developed by Yves Gardan:
Now no longer involved with any company, Gardan pursued his dream of developing ultra-light types.
- GY-120 (1984) — An open single-seat ultralight airplane with one 40 hp Hirth 270R-03E engine.
Unfortunately, the plane crashes on its first and only flight.
GY-130 — This cabin ultralight, powered by an 80 hp Jabiru engine, was conceived as an 80% scale tribute to the venerable Potez 36, and was initially known as the GY-36.
Developed under the new company name Gardavia, it was Yves Gardan's final prototype, which he didn't have time to finish it before his passing in 2009.
GY-145 — An ultralight project that was in the works but was never built.
GY-20NG — Another ultralight project that was never built.
Various other types related to Yves Gardan:
- G-10R — A small hovercraft type.
- Barritault JB.01 Standard (1959) — A version of the GY-20 "Minicab" that was approved by Gardan and homebuilt in several examples.
Jean Barritault's own prototype was [F-PJKA n°01], which apparently wound up in the UK as [G-ATPV], along with several other JB.01s. - Gardan-Laverlochère GL-10 (1981) — A version of the GY-100 "Bagheera" with a 115 hp Lycoming O-235-C2 engine, also approved by Gardan [F-PYJY].
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