AISA I-11
Encyclopedia
The I-11 was a two-seat civil utility aircraft manufactured in Spain
in the 1950s. Originally designed by the Spanish aircraft company Iberavia
, its first (of two) prototype flew on 16 July 1951
. It was a low-wing monoplane
of conventional configuration with fixed, tricycle undercarriage
and a large, bubble canopy
over the two side-by-side seats. Flight characteristics were found to be pleasing, but before plans could be made for mass production, Iberavia was acquired by AISA
.
The new management decided to continue with development, but made a few changes to the design, reducing the size of the canopy, and replacing the undercarriage with a taildragger
arrangement. This configuration entered production in 1952
with an order from the Director General for Civil Aviation for 70 aircraft for use in Spain's aeroclubs. The Spanish Air Force
then ordered 125 for use in training
and liaison roles. The Air Force then requested 200 aircraft built with the seats in tandem, which were designated I-115 by the manufacturers and E.9 by the Spanish Air Force. It was a larger and heavier aircraft, powered by a 112 kW (150 hp) ENMA Tigre inverted air-cooled engine.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the 1950s. Originally designed by the Spanish aircraft company Iberavia
Iberavia
Iberavia was a Spanish aircraft manufacturing company established in Madrid in 1946. Originally, the firm built aircraft instruments, but from 1948 onwards supplied training gliders of its own design to the Spanish Air Force . In 1951 it flew a prototype light plane, the Iberavia I-11 which only...
, its first (of two) prototype flew on 16 July 1951
1951 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1951:-Events:* Three aerial refueling points are installed on a modified United States Air Force B-29 Superfortress, making it the worlds first triple-point aerial tanker...
. It was a low-wing monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
of conventional configuration with fixed, tricycle undercarriage
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
and a large, bubble canopy
Bubble canopy
A bubble canopy is a canopy made like a soap bubble, which attempts to provide 360° vision to the pilot.-History:Bubble canopies have been in use since World War II. The British had already developed the "Malcolm hood", which was a bulged canopy, but the British Miles M.20 was one of the first...
over the two side-by-side seats. Flight characteristics were found to be pleasing, but before plans could be made for mass production, Iberavia was acquired by AISA
AISA
Aeronáutica Industrial S.A. is a Spanish aeronautical company specialising in the maintenance and upgrading of helicopters. It was established in Madrid in 1923 and through the course of the 20th century manufactured a number of light aircraft designs including Cierva autogyros...
.
The new management decided to continue with development, but made a few changes to the design, reducing the size of the canopy, and replacing the undercarriage with a taildragger
Conventional landing gear
thumb|The [[Piper PA-18|Piper Super Cub]] is a popular taildragger aircraft.thumb|right|A [[Cessna 150]] converted to taildragger configuration by installation of an after-market modification kit....
arrangement. This configuration entered production in 1952
1952 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1952:- Events :* The Royal Navy conducts the worlds first trials of an angled flight deck, aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Triumph. It had been invented by Royal Navy Captain Dennis R. F. Campbell,* The Royal Navy conducts the worlds first trials of a...
with an order from the Director General for Civil Aviation for 70 aircraft for use in Spain's aeroclubs. The Spanish Air Force
Spanish Air Force
-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
then ordered 125 for use in training
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
and liaison roles. The Air Force then requested 200 aircraft built with the seats in tandem, which were designated I-115 by the manufacturers and E.9 by the Spanish Air Force. It was a larger and heavier aircraft, powered by a 112 kW (150 hp) ENMA Tigre inverted air-cooled engine.
Variants
- I-11 - 2 prototypes by Iberavia, tricycle undercarriage
- I-11B - production examples by AISA
- I-115 - tandem-seat version, designated E.9 by air force.