Tipsy airplanes.

Ernest-Oscar Tips began working on airplanes in 1908 when, with his brother Maurice, they built a tricycle welded biplane fitted with reversible propellers. They also developed valveless rotary engines whose production was cancelled by the outbreak of WWI. He then escaped in England where he worked for Fairey till the 30's before returning to Belgium to establish "Avions Fairey". A bit later, he designed the Tipsy S, the first model of a range of little sports airplanes that ended with the Nipper in the sixties. Success was immediate and the S.2, the B/Trainer, the M/Fairey Primer were also produced in England. During WWII, he went back to England where he managed an Air Ministry repair depot before returning to Fairey to become Chief Experimental and Research Engineer. After rebuilding " Avions Fairey" plant at the end of the war, he then designed the Junior, the Belfair and the Nipper that definitely established the Tipsy name worldwide. Avions Fairey currently exists under the name SONACA and Tipsy airplanes are still much appreciated. Many are airworthy and the Nipper is still in production with homebuilders.