Photograph:
Auster J-5R Alpine VH-BTI (c/n 3301) at Bankstown, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Description:
Three/four-seat cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 108 kw (145 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 four-cylinder in-line inverted air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft)
- Length: 7.07 m (23 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.m (6 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 17.18 m² (185 sq ft)
- Max speed: 206 km/h (128 mph)
- Cruising speed: 180 km/h (112 mph)
- Stalling speed: 50 km/h (31 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 312 m/min (1,025 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 6,706 m (22,000 ft)
- Still air range at 163 km/h (101 mph): 644 km (400 miles)
- Take-off run in 8 km/h (5 mph) wind: 123 m (405 ft)
- Take-off distance to clear 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 251 m (825 ft)
- Empty weight: 604 kg (1,332 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,021 kg (2,250 lb)
History:
The Auster J-5 Alpine series was introduced to the Auster range in 1955, being a development specially for operations from high-altitude airfields in hot climates. It basically used the fuselage of the J-1B Aiglet with the wings of the J-5B Autocar, together with some modifications such as more effective ailerons, which gave better handling, and better comfort for those on board. It was described as having a capacious cabin and a large payload capacity.
The Alpine series had a more powerful engine and this, with the larger wing, gave better take-off and landing characteristics. The cabin was 108 cm (42.5 in) in width, accommodation being provided for two in the front and one in the rear. Both the right and rear seats could be removed to carry bulky freight or a stretcher. The series was suitable for training, and had ailerons with greater balance area and modified shrouds to assist with lateral control. Construction was typical Auster, with a welded steel tube fuselage with fabric covering, the wing also being of metal construction with fabric covering.
The Alpine was produced in two models, the J-5R with the 108 kw (145 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 engine and the J-5Q with the 97 kw (130 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major I engine. The J-5L was a variant of the J-5F with a 108 kw (145 hp) de Havlland Gipsy Major 10 Mk 2-1 engine but had the 9.75 m (32 ft) wing and a max speed of 208 km/h (129 mph), a cruising speed of 188 km/h (117 mph) and a range of 708 km (440 miles). A small number of J-5Ls were built, three being supplied to the Kuwait Aero Club. The J-5K was a variant with a 116 kw (155 hp) Cirrus Major engine.
Examples of the series in this region included: J-5L VH-BYW (c/n 3136); J-5Rs VH-BTI (c/n 3301 – ex G-AOGN) and VH-KCK (c/n 3305) which crashed on 7 December 1961 at Booligal, NSW; and J-5Q, being produced in small numbers, only one being registered in Australia, VH-UED (c/n 3203) which crashed near Katherine, NT on 6 March 1966.