Photograph:
Auster J-1N Alpha VH-EUD (c/n 2199) at Warnervale, NSW in 1978 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Great Britain
Description:
Three/four-seat cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 97 kw (130 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major I four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft)
- Length: 7.25 m (23 ft 8¼ in)
- Height: 2 m (6 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 17.18 m² (185 sq ft)
- Max speed: 203 km/h (126 mph)
- Cruising speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Rate of climb: 274 m/min (900 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 5,486 m (18,000 ft)
- Range: 354 km (220 miles)
- Empty weight: 544 kg (1,200 lb)
- Loaded weight: 907 kg (2,000 lb)
History:
In 1950 an Auster J-1 Autocrat airframe was converted by Auster to J-1B Aiglet configuration, being fitted with a Gipsy Major I engine and a larger horn-balanced rudder. Aimed at the agricultural role as a crop sprayer, it was fitted with a wind driven pump for spraying insecticide, although it seems not a great many were used for this purpose, most of the aircraft constructed being imported to this region and used as private aircraft, or in the training role, although a number were exported to the Sudan where they were operated by Aerial Spraying Contracts Ltd.
In 1956 a further model appeared, the J-1N Alpha, the first conversion being a J-1B Aiglet G-AJUW, operating in the United Kingdom for a period before being sold to Ireland. A conversion of the standard J-1 Autocrat to take the Gipsy Major 1 engine, the J-1N Alpha was fitted with a vertical tail similar to that on the J-1B. Some had the third seat removed and a bench seat fitted in the rear of the cockpit. Production took place at the Auster Air Ltd facility at Rearsby Aerodrome in Leicester.
The J-1N Alpha proved popular in the UK and more than 50 have appeared on the British Civil Register. One J-1N G-AMIH (‘Lady Lady’) was entered in the Daily Express Race at Shoreham in the UK on 22 September 1951 and came second at a speed of 218.06 km/h (135.5 mph).
A number of examples have been registered in Australia, being imported in the mid-1950s. The first J-1N Alphas were converted J-1 Autocrats, but later production aircraft were built to J-1N Alpha standard with the Gipsy Major 1 engine, horn-balanced rudder, and straight top fin.
Auster J-1N Alphas registered in Australia included: VH-RQK/VH-ACE/VH-CSF/VH-RJL (c/n 3351); VH-KCI (c/n 3354) which crashed at Tibooburra, NSW on 10 May 1959; VH-KCM (c/n 3353); VH-SAF/VH-ONA (c/n 3355); VH-KCJ (c/n 3356); VH-SAG (c/n 3358) which crashed at Injune, QLD on 2 June 1957; VH-KAW (c/n 3361); VH-KCR (c/n 3362); VH-BTJ/VH-GMG/VH-COL (c/n 3363); VH-BTK (c/n 3364); VH-KCP (c/n 3365); VH-KCT (c/n 3366); VH-KCV (c/n 3367); VH-KCU (c/n 3368); VH-SAH (c/n 3371); VH-KCW (c/n 3373); VH-KCX (c/n 3374); VH-KCZ (c/n 3376); VH-KDC (c/n 3378) which crashed at Groper Creek, QLD on 18 January 1959; VH-UEB (c/n3369); VH-EUD (c/n 2199); and VH-KDA (c/n 3379).
A further example was imported from the United Kingdom in the 1980s for restoration, this being G-AVYU obtained from the Gliding & Soaring Association at Roundell, which became VH-BGL³ (c/n 3746 – ex G-AVYU, WJ401) on 11 September 1999.