Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Two-seat touring monoplane

Power Plant:

One 56 kw (75 hp) Continental C75-12 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The Auster J-2 Arrow was the first post-war touring aircraft designed by Auster Aircraft Ltd as a successor to the pre-war Taylorcraft Plus C monoplane. The prototype, which later became Z-1, G-AGPS (c/n 1660), was fitted with a 48 kw (65 hp) Lycoming O-145-B3 engine and made its first flight in 1946 at the Rearsby Aerodrome in Leicester, UK devoid of any markings. It spent its life mainly as a company aircraft. It was later fitted with a 56 kw (75 hp) Continental C-75-12 engine and was first seen by the public at a show at Radlett in Hertfordshire carrying the registration G-AICA. Only a small number of J-2 Arrow aircraft were built, due mainly to restrictions in the United Kingdom placed on the importation of American-built engines, and only six were sold in the United Kingdom, the remainder of the production batch being exported.

At one stage the Company decided to fit a smaller, lighter engine to the Model J-2 Arrow in an attempt to make the aircraft closer to the Taylorcraft design, the engine being the 48 kw (65 hp) Continental A-65 and the new aircraft became known as the Auster J-3, unofficially with the name ‘Atom’. The prototype G-AHSY flew at Rearsby on 6 September 1946 and externally differed only in having a tail skid in lieu of a tail wheel. Only two were built and, as they were found to be under-powered, no more were completed and the prototype was eventually re-built as a J-4 Archer.

A number of Auster J-2 Arrow aircraft were imported to this region by the distributors, Kingsford Smith Aviation Pty Ltd of Bankstown, NSW and, although some retained the Continental engine, some conversions to other power plants were carried out.

Aircraft registered included: VH-ABF (c/n 2389 – ex G-AJPS), first registered in July 1951 but receiving a Cirrus Minor 2 in-line engine in 1957, converting it to J-4 Archer configuration, it then being re-registered VH-BYL; and VH-BNQ (c/n 2361 – ex G-AIJU), which was badly damaged in an accident near Bundaberg on 26 March 1951 and during its reconstruction was fitted with a tricycle undercarriage at Archerfield, QLD, but difficulties with paperwork meant it was completed with a tailwheel. Eventually in 1958 it was re-engined and became a J-4 Archer Special. It later became VH-KFF but again became VH-BNQ in July 1992.

Another example was VH-ACD (c/n 2390) fitted with a Continental C-125-2 four-cylinder engine, becoming known as a J-2C Super Arrow, which was damaged in an accident at Mackay, QLD on 29 March 1972. VH-PUK, VH -PUL and VH-BYZ in 1950 received 81 kw (108 hp) Lycoming O-235-C1 engines, becoming known as Auster J-2 Specials.

A total of 44 of the series was built. Somewhat similar to the Auster J-1 Autocrat, the J-2 Arrow had a shorter fuselage, reduced window area, and wing flaps. Operators in Australia included Somerton Airways and the Royal Queensland Aero Club at Archerfield, this club operating three and having them all fitted with an 81 kw (108 hp) Lycoming O-235-C1 engine, which increased max speed by 37 km/h (23 mph).

Auster J-2 Arrow aircraft registered in Australia, with the registrations they carried, included: VH-BNP/VH-RQK/VH-PUK (c/n 2351); VH-BDE/VH-KFB/VH-CRR (c/n 2352) later converted to J-4 Archer configuration; VH-BNQ (c/n 2361), also converted to J-4 Archer configuration; VH BYZ/VH-RQM/VH-BQM (c/n 2365); VH-KBR (c/n 2372); VH-KAM (c/n 2379); VH-KAY/VH-RQL/VH-PUL (c/n 2384); VH-AFD (c/n 2386); VH-KAF/VH-KAC (c/n 2388); VH-ABF/VH-BYL (c/n 2389) converted to J-4 Archer configuration; VH-ACD (c/n 2390) fitted with a 93 kw (125 hp) Continental C-125-2 engine, becoming known as a J-2C Super Arrow; and VH-KAE (c/n 2393).

In later times at least one example, which had been converted to J-4 Archer configuration, has been returned to J-2 Arrow configuration.