Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Four-seat cabin monoplane

Power Plant:

One 87 kw (130 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 1 four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The three-seat Auster J-5 Autocrat was basically a more powerful version of the J-1 Autocrat but, unlike the similarly engined J-1B Aiglet and J-1N Alpha, the J-5 did not have the larger vertical tail surfaces provided on those aircraft to compensate for the extra power. The engine was set further back by sloping the firewall, so the standard tail was adequate. Other differences were the strengthened tube structure forming the lower door diagonal, increased strength of the front and rear door pillars, and strengthening of the undercarriage truss. In addition, a cowl fuel tank, the same as that fitted to the J-1 Autocrat, was installed.

The J-5 Adventurer was a four-seat version of the three-seat J-5 Autocrat, built specifically for the Australian and New Zealand markets. Most of the 50 Auster J-5s Autocrats built at Rearsby, Leicester, UK were shipped to Australia for assembly at Bankstown, NSW by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service and sale in this region.

One example VH-KSK (c/n 2809) was assembled in 1957 by Aviation Services (SA) Ltd from spare parts at Parafield, SA using the fuselage of AUS474FM, an aircraft which had previously operated with Connellan Airways as VH-KAV (c/n 2894). It subsequently operated with Williams Flying School at Whyalla, SA.

Six were purchased by the RNZAF as engineless airframes and shipped to New Zealand in 1947. They became serials NZ1701 (c/n 2094; NZ1702 (c/n 2095); NZ1703 (c/n 2096); NZ1704 (c/n 2801); NZ1705 (c/n 2802); and NZ1706 (c/n 2803) and saw service from 1947 to 1970. They were used for Army liaison, utility, forestry fire patrol, and cadet flying during their service. Three (NZ1701, NZ1705 and NZ1706) were operated for seaplane training at various times.

The type saw service with the Communications Flights at Rongotai and Ohakea. NZ1702 served with the Communications Flight at Rongotai and operated forestry patrol from Rotorua. It also aw service with No 1 Reconnaissance Squadron in 1963, and No 3 Battlefield Support Squadron. It was declared surplus in 1970, becoming ZK-DBU, and survives painted in RNZAF markings.

NZ1703 was lost in a crash in bush near the Eyre River, Canterbury on 20 August 1959 whilst carrying out a photographic sortie and was written off.

NZ1704 was loaned to James Aviation from February to June 1952 for forestry fire patrol and became ZK-AVY during this time. It later went to No 1 Reconnaissance Squadron and No 3 Squadron for army co-operation work. It was damaged landing on an airstrip at Maungatawhiri on 4 December 1968 and was written off. The wreck was sold and repaired by Airwork (NZ) Ltd, again becoming ZK-AVY.

NZ1701 was operated on floats, the first to be so fitted of this series of aircraft. It was operated on forestry fire patrols from Rotorua. From 15 May 1952 to January 1956 it was fitted with floats and served with No 6 Flying Boat Squadron at Hobsonville. It was later sold to the Piako Aero Club and became ZK-BQL (c/n 2094).

NZ1705 after service with the Communications Flight at Ohakea was operated on floats for a period with No 6 Flying Boat Squadron at Hobsonville. It was declared surplus in 1956 and exported to Australia, where it became VH-PMG³ (c/n 2802), being noted on 20 March 1957 at Rose Bay, Sydney, NSW on floats in RNZAF markings. The registration was changed to VH-ADS³ in 1963. For a time in 1968 it was fitted with floats and flown from Lake Macquarie, NSW, these being the floats on which it had operated with the RNZAF.

NZ1706 was also operated on floats at various times, and crashed at Papakura on 5 December 1953 whilst with No 1 Squadron Whenuapai and was written off. It was rebuilt, became ZK-BGT, and served with Rolvin Airways, Southern Scenic Air Services and other operators but crashed at the mouth of the Cascade River, Westland on 27 February 1960.

New Zealand civil J-5s included: ZK-AVY (c/n 2802); ZK-BGT (c/n 2803); ZK-BQL (c/n 2094) and ZK-DBU (c/n 2096).

Australian registered J-5s included: VH-KSC (c/n 2097) lost in a fire in May 1958; VH-KSD (c/n 2098) which crashed at Kaiaput, PNG on 1 November 1948; VH-KSF (c/n 2099) which crashed at Forbes, NSW on 9 April 1955; VH-KSE (c/n 2804); VH-KSH (c/n 2805); VH-KSG/VH-DDX/VH-SCO (c/n 2806) which after an accident was rebuilt as a J-5-190; VH-KCI (c/n 2807) which crashed on 2 April 1959; VH-KSJ/VH-WAY/VH-RJP (c/n 2808); VH-KSK (c/n 2809); VH-KSL (c/n 2810) which crashed in January 1957; VH-KSN (c/n 2811); and VH-KSM (c/n 2812) which crashed on 7 January 2001 at Dreikiker, PNG.

Further registered J-5s included: VH-KSP (c/n 2813); VH-KSQ (c/n 2814); VH-KSR (c/n 2872); VH-KSS (c/n 2873); VH-KST/VH-BYY (c/n 2875); VH-KSU (c/n 2877); VH-KSA/VH-IAL (c/n 2882); VH-KSW (c/n 2886) which was damaged in an accident at Bathurst, NSW on 27 December 1963; VH-KAV (c/n 2894) damaged in a heavy landing on 21 September 1975 at Kambalda, WA; VH-KBA (c/n 2895); VH-KBD (c/n 2896); VH-KBH (c/n 2897); VH-KBL/VH-MSP (c/n 2898); VH-KSX (c/n 2887) which crashed on 29 March 1951 at Dreikiker, PNG; VH-KSY (c/n 2888) which crashed on 1 March 1953; VH-KSZ (c/n 2890); VH-KAR (c/n 2891); VH-KAS (c/n 2892); VH-KAD (c/n 2842); VH-KAP (c/n 2893); and VH-ADS (c/n 2802 – ex NZ1705).