Auster

Auster Aircraft Limited
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1938 (as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited)
Defunct	1960
Fate	Merged with Beagle Aircraft.
Headquarters	Rearsby, Leicestershire, UK

Last updated January 05, 2024

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).

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

Aircraft

Auster J/5F Aiglet Trainer of 1953 Auster.aiglet.g-amzt.arp.jpg — Auster J/5F Aiglet Trainer of 1953

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 Gipsy Major 1 engine
Model F – Auster II – re-engined Auster I Lycoming 0-290-3 engine
Model G – Auster IV – Modified fuselage with extended rear cabin glazing and Lycoming 0-290-3 engine
Model H – Experimental tandem two-seat training glider converted from Taylorcraft B.
Model J – Auster V – As Auster IV with blind-flying instruments and Vacuum System Lycoming 0-290-3/1 engine
Auster J family
- Mk 5 – Civil conversion of Auster V with Lycoming 0-290-3(C) engines
- Mk 5 Alpha – new-build Auster Mk5 aircraft with Lycoming 0-290-3(C) engines
- Mk5-150 – Conversion of Civil Auster V with Lycoming 0-320 engine
- J/1 Autocrat – three-seat high-winged monoplane light aircraft (fitted with Blackburn Cirrus Minor II engine)
- Auster J/1A Autocrat – four-seat version of Autocrat
- Auster J/1B Aiglet – re-engined agricultural version of Autocrat ([De Havilland Gipsy Major1] engine)
- Auster J/1N – Conversion of Auster J/1 Autocrat from Cirrus MinorII engine to Gipsy Major1 engine.
- Auster J/1N Alpha – NEW built Auster J/1N aircraft (De Havilland Gipsy Major1 engine)
- Auster J/1S Autocrat – Conversion to De-Havilland Gipsy Major10 Mk2 engine.
- J/1U Workmaster – agricultural version of the Alpha Lycoming 0-360 engine
- Auster J/1Y – Conversion of Auster J/1 Series to Lycoming 0-320 Engine Predecessor of Auster D5/160 Auster D5 ^[2]
J/2 Arrow
J/3 Atom – low-powered version of Arrow with Continental engine
J/4 – Arrow with Blackburn Cirrus Minor I engine Predecessor of Auster D4/108
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/5T Autocar – one only built
- Auster J/5V Autocar
J/5 Aiglet Trainer – aerobatic version 32 ft wingspan
- 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 with 36 ft wingspan
- Auster J/5R Alpine
- Auster J/5Q Alpine
Model K – Auster AOP6 – post-war military Air Observation aircraft.
- Auster 6A Tugmaster – glider towing conversion of the Auster 6
- Auster 6B / Beagle Terrier – civil conversion of the Auster 6
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.

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 a 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.

Notes

1 2 Willis, issue 122, p.55
↑ Wenham 2015, p. 42.
↑ "Britain's Aircraft: Auster A.2/45". Flight 8 September 1949, p. 293

Related Research Articles

The de Havilland Gipsy Major or Gipsy IIIA is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, inverted inline engine used in a variety of light aircraft produced in the 1930s, including the famous Tiger Moth biplane. Many Gipsy Major engines still power vintage aircraft types.

Beagle Aircraft Limited was a British light aircraft manufacturer. The company produced the Airedale, Terrier, Beagle 206, Husky and the Pup. It had factories at Rearsby in Leicestershire and Shoreham in Sussex. The company was dissolved in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylorcraft Aircraft</span>

Taylorcraft Aviation is an airplane manufacturer that has been producing aircraft for more than 70 years in several locations.

Rearsby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is known for its Seven Arch Bridge, and is also home to the Preachers Stone.

The Beagle A.61 Terrier is a British single-engined monoplane built by Beagle Aircraft.

The Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited company during the Second World War.

The Auster J/1 Autocrat was a 1940s British single-engined three-seat high-wing touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby, Leicestershire.

The Auster J/5 Autocar was a late 1940s British single-engined four-seat high-wing touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby, Leicestershire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auster Aiglet Trainer</span> 1950s British light aircraft

The Auster J/5 Aiglet Trainer was a 1950s British single-engined four-seat high-wing training and touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby, Leicestershire.

The Auster J/5 Alpine was a 1950s British single-engined four-seat high-wing training and touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby, Leicestershire.

The Auster AOP.6 was a British military air observation aircraft produced by Auster Aircraft Limited to replace the numerous wartime Taylorcraft Auster aircraft then in-service.

The Auster AOP.9 was a British military air observation aircraft produced by Auster Aircraft Limited to replace the Auster AOP.6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beagle Husky</span> Type of aircraft

The Beagle Husky was a three-seat British light aircraft built in the 1960s which originated from a Portuguese Air Force requirement for a liaison/training aircraft, a development of the Auster Alpha. It first flew as an Auster design in January 1960, but that company was taken over by Beagle Aircraft in September that year. It was initially available with a 160 hp Lycoming O-320 engine as the Auster D5/160.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heston JC.6</span> Type of aircraft

The Heston JC.6 was a British prototype air observation post aircraft designed and built by the Heston Aircraft Company Limited, who had previously built the Heston Phoenix, the Heston T.1/37 and the Napier-Heston Racer. The JC.6 was also known as the Heston A.2/45 or the Heston AOP.

The Auster J/1B Aiglet is a British light civil utility aircraft developed in the 1950s.

The Auster J/5 Adventurer is a British-built three-seat light high-wing monoplane of the late 1940s.

The Auster 6A Tugmaster was a British high-wing monoplane glider tug converted from surplus former military Auster AOP.6s.

The Auster J series was a family of British light civil utility aircraft developed in the 1940s and 50s by Auster at Rearsby, Leicestershire.

The Taylorcraft Model D is a light aircraft of the US manufacturer Taylorcraft Aviation from the early 1940s.

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 . Key Publishing. January/February 2006 (121): 40–57. ISSN 0143-5450.
Willis, David (2006). "Military Auster A to Z: Post-war use and experimentals". Air Enthusiast . Key Publishing. March/April 2006 (122): 42–57. ISSN 0143-5450.
Willis, David (2006). "Military Auster A to Z: In different colours – Exports". Air Enthusiast . Key Publishing. May/June 2006 (123): 64–72. ISSN 0143-5450.

External links

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[Willis1-1] 1 2 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] Part of Bombardier Inc.; since 2019 part of Spirit AeroSystems

[5] Government owned from 1966 to liquidation

[6] Purchased rights for various Beagle and Handley-Page designs from the liquidator.

[7] Comprising Hawker Aircraft, Gloster Aircraft Company and Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft.

[8] BAC comprised the aviation interests of the companies that formed it, and wholly owned Hunting Aircraft.

[9] English Electric Aircraft, a subsidiary of the English Electric Company.

[10] GEC purchased EE and with it The Marconi Company and EE's shareholding in BAC, through its subsidiary EE Aircraft.

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v t e Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (UK)/Auster Aircraft
Taylorcraft	Plus C Plus D D1 E F G H J Auster I Auster II Auster III Auster IV Auster V
Auster	Auster A.2/45 J/1 Autocrat J/1B Aiglet J/1U Workmaster J/2 Arrow J/3 Atom J/4 J/5 Adventurer J/5 Autocar J/5 Aiglet Trainer J/5 Alpine AOP6 6A Tugmaster 6B Terrier Avis T7 B4 B5 AOP9 B8 Agricola Antarctic Atlantic D4 D5 D6 AOP11