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Auster Aircraft

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For the Roman god of the south wind, see Anemoi § Auster. For other uses, see Auster Aircraft (disambiguation).

Auster Aircraft Limited
IndustryAerospace
Founded1938 (as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited)
Defunct1960
FateMerged with Beagle Aircraft.
HeadquartersRearsby, Leicestershire, UK

Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.[1]

History

The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, Thurmaston near Leicester, England, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of America. 1,604 high-wing Taylorcraft Auster monoplanes were built during World War II for the armed forces of the UK and Canada, primarily for the role of Air Observation Post (AOP).

Auster Alpha parked in front of Auster's original assembly facilities at Rearsby in 1966

During the war the head office and drawing office were at a big old house on the outskirts of Thurmaston called "The Woodlands". The fuselages and wings were manufactured at Syston under the works manager by the name of Sharp. Sheet metalwork was done at the old 'en tout cas' works at Thurmaston. Final assembly, fitting out and testing took place at Rearsby aerodrome. The name changed to Auster (after the Roman name for the south wind) on 7 March 1946, when production shifted to Rearsby aerodrome, all in Leicestershire. All designs were evolved from the early Taylorcraft with a sprung skid or tailwheel beneath the fin (except for a low-wing aircraft called the "Agricola" designed for aerial farming work; only nine of these were completed). When the company was merged into Beagle Aircraft in June, 1961,[1] the high-wing design was developed still further as the Terrier and, with a nosewheel, the Airedale.

The various Auster models were extensively used in the UK and British colonies after World War II for a variety of activities such as AOP, mail delivery, VIP transport, private owner flights and joy rides at seaside airports and town carnivals.

The Auster name was dropped in 1962 after Beagle Aircraft was created.

Aircraft

Auster Autocrat 5J1, built 1946
Auster J/5F Aiglet Trainer of 1953
Beagle A.61 Terrier of 1962
  • Taylorcraft Plus C – licence-built Taylorcraft B
  • Taylorcraft Plus D – re-engined Plus C.
  • Model D/1 – Auster I – military version of Plus C with enlarged windows.
  • Model E – Auster III – re-engined Auster I with split flaps.
  • Model F – Auster II – re-engined Auster I.
  • Model G – Auster IV – enlarged version of Auster III.
  • Model H – Experimental tandem two-seat training glider converted from Taylorcraft B.
  • Model J – Auster V – Auster IV with blind-flying instruments.
  • Auster J family
  • J/2 Arrow
  • J/3 Atom – low-powered version of Arrow with Continental engine
  • J/4 – Arrow with Blackburn Cirrus Minor I engine
  • J/5 Adventurer – three-seat high-wing monoplane light aircraft
    • Auster J/5 Adventurer
    • Auster J/5A Adventurer
  • J/5 Autocar
    • Auster J/5B Autocar – four-seat high-winged monoplane light aircraft
    • Auster J/5E Autocar
    • Auster J/5G Autocar
    • Auster J/5P Autocar
    • Auster J/5V Autocar
  • J/5 Aiglet Trainer – aerobatic version of the Autocar
    • Auster J/5F Aiglet Trainer
    • Auster J/5K Aiglet Trainer
    • Auster J/5L Aiglet Trainer
    • Auster J/8L Aiglet Trainer
  • J/5 Alpine – improved Aiglet Trainer
    • Auster J/5R Alpine
    • Auster J/5Q Alpine
  • Model K – Auster AOP6 – post-war military Air Observation aircraft.
  • Model L – proposed two or three seat low-wing monoplane based on the Model G airframe with a Lycoming O-290-3 engine, not built.
The Auster A.2/45 second prototype, VL523, of 1949
  • Model M – Auster A.2/45 – 2 or 3-seat high-wing AOP aircraft, prototype only.[3]
  • Model N – Auster A.2/45 – re-engined Model M, prototype only.
  • Model P – Auster Avis – four-seater based on J/1 with slimmer fuselage, two built.
  • Model Q – Auster T7 – two-seat trainer version of AOP6.
  • Model S – AOP aircraft based on AOP6 with enlarged tail, prototype only.
  • Model A3 - two-seat light aircraft project with a Blackburn Cirrus Minor engine, not built.
  • Model A4 - two-seat development project of current (1948) designs with a Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2 engine, not built.
  • Model A5 - four-seat army co-operation project with a De Havilland Gipsy Major 10 engine, two version planned a conventional landing gear for air ambulance work and a tricycle landing gear version for communications and reconnaissance work, not built.
  • Model A6 - variant of the A4 with a Cirrus Minor engine driving a geared ducted fan, not built.
  • Model A7 – light twin project, not built.
  • Model A8 - three-seat AOP project with a Bombardier engine, not built.
  • Model A9 - Project to meet an Royal Air Force requirement for a two-seat training aircraft, the Percival Provost was selected and the A9 was not built.
  • Model B1 – mid-wing AOP project, not built.
  • Model B3 – radio-controlled target drone.
  • Model B4 – Auster B4 – four-seat high-winged ambulance aircraft
  • Model B5 – Auster AOP9 – 1950s military air observation aircraft
  • Model B6 – parasol-wing agricultural project with bubble canopy, not built.
  • Model B8 – Auster B8 Agricola – low-winged agricultural aircraft
  • Model B9 – ramjet helicopter project, not built
  • Model C4 – Auster Antarctic – modified Auster T7 for Antarctic support.
  • Model C6 – Auster Atlantic – four-seat high-wing touring monoplane with tricycle undercarriage, one built.
  • Model D4 – Auster D4 – two-seat development of the Auster Arrow.
  • Model D5 – Auster D5 – re-engined version of Auster Alpha with modified tail, developed as the Beagle Husky
  • Model D6 – Auster D6 – four-seat development of Auster Autocar
  • Model D8 – original designation of Beagle Airedale.
  • Model E3 – AOP9 with modified engine as the AOP11.

IAC 40th Anniversary Rearsby Fly In

To mark the 40th anniversary of the International Auster Club, on 24 August 2013 13 Austers descended onto a farmer's field next to the old wartime factory in Rearsby.

80th Anniversary Fly In

To mark the 80th anniversary of the type, Threshold.aero are holding a public event[4] at Middle Wallop airfield in association with the Army Air Corps and Museum of Army Flying.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Willis, issue 122, p.55
  2. ^ Wenham 2015, p. 42.
  3. ^ "Britain's Aircraft: Auster A.2/45". Flight 8 September 1949, p. 293
  4. ^ https://www.threshold.aero/event/official-auster-80th-anniversary-commemorative-fly

References

  • The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988 James J.Halley. London: Air-Britain, 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Canada's Flying Gunners Lt.-Col. D.L. Fromow (Ottawa: Air O.P. Pilot's Association, 2002);
  • Battle History 666 (Calgary: Abel Book Company, 2006)
  • The History of the Auster Aeroplane (Revised 3rd Ed.) Ambrose Hitchman and Mike Preston. International Auster Club Heritage Group, 2006.
  • Wenham, Tom (2015). False Dawn - The Beagle Aircraft Story. Air-Britain. ISBN 978 0 85130 479 3.
  • Willis, David (2006). "Military Auster A to Z: Unarmed and in the frontline". Air Enthusiast. January/February 2006 (121). Key Publishing: 40–57. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Willis, David (2006). "Military Auster A to Z: Post-war use and experimentals". Air Enthusiast. March/April 2006 (122). Key Publishing: 42–57. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Willis, David (2006). "Military Auster A to Z: In different colours – Exports". Air Enthusiast. May/June 2006 (123). Key Publishing: 64–72. ISSN 0143-5450.
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