Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Four-seat cabin monoplane

Power Plant:

One 97 kw (130 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 1 four-cylinder in-line inverted air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

Following the success of the three-seat Auster J-5 Autocrat, Auster’s chief designer, R E Bird, used the experience gained from the design of the J-1N Alpha, which did not proceed to production in any numbers, and came up with a four-seater of similar specifications. The prototype G-AJYK (c/n 2908) of this model was first flown in August 1949 and was displayed at the Farnborough Air Show in Hampshire, UK that year. It was fitted with a de Havilland Gipsy Major 1 engine, an enlarged horn-balanced rudder, and a domed cabin roof, this being achieved by the addition of wooden frames over the standard steel tube framework. The inboard end of each wing was constructed with steel ribs to house a fuel tank. It also had an enlarged fin and balanced rudder. The passenger seats could be removed so it could be used as a light freighter, being able to carry up to 259 kg (570 lb) of freight.

Eighty examples of the Model J-5B Autocar were built. Quite a number were imported to Australia by the distributor, Kingsford Smith Aviation Service of Bankstown, NSW, assembled, fitted with engines and sold throughout the country. One J-5B VH-BPB (c/n 3097) crashed at Grenvale Station, QLD on 29 May 1959. Following a major reconstruction in 1971, was fitted with floats and a Lycoming O-360 engine taken from the nose of de Havilland Drover VH-FDC. It thus became known as a J-5B-A1 and was registered as VH-TTH. The floats were said to have been those fitted to Auster J-5 Adventurer floatplane VH-ADS. On 3 January 1973 whilst VH-TTH was taxiing at Ulladulla Harbour, NSW, a float strut collapsed and the aircraft overturned.

Another J-5B Autocar VH-WBA (c/n 22971 – ex VR-WAA, VR-UDO, VR-SDO) was operated by the Borneo Evangelical Mission in Sarawak carrying freight and supplies to outlying areas before being flown to Australia in August 1962. In 1964 it was entered in, and won, the Ansett Air Race from Brisbane, QLD to Adelaide, SA.

One J-5B VH-KCO (c/n 2947) was modified by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service at Bankstown to J-5H configuration by the installation of a Cirrus Major 2 engine.

Australian registered J-5 Autocars included: VH-KAL (c/2914); VH-KAS (c/n 2918); VH-KAN (c/n 2919) which crashed at Garaka Gap, NG on 6 May 1951; VH-KAT (c/n 2942); VH-KAX/VH-GVC/VH-ASZ (c/n 2922); VH-DYY/VH-TOR (c/n 2928 – ex G-AJYY); VH-ASD (c/n 2936) which crashed at Qamby, QLD on 9 February 1955; VH-KBF (c/n 2937) which crashed at Denman, NSW on 26 January 1952; VH-KBP (c/n 2938); VH-KBJ (c/n 2939); and VH-KBW (c/n 2940) which crashed at Albany, WA on 29 November 1958.

Further registered examples of the J-5B included: VH-ACL (c/n 2946) which was destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in Darwin, NT on 25 December 1974; VH-ADU/VH-AJP/VH-TMD (c/n 2951); VH-BYC (c/n 2956) which crashed at Dirranbandi, QLD on 25 April 1958; VH-BPB (c/n 3097); VH-BPC (c/n 3154); VH-KCN (c/n 3264) which crashed on take-off at Narrandera, NSW on 22 July 1967; VH-SNA (c/n (3269) which was damaged beyond repair; VH-RNB/VH-ENB (c/n 3166); VH-RNA/VH-BNA (c/n 3167); VH-DNM (c/n 3170); VH-BYQ (c/n 3186); VH-BPD/VH-WRH (c/n 3190); VH-KCL (c/n 3261); VH-STB/VH-SNK (c/n 3164); and VH-KCC (c/n 3251) which was built as a J-5P changing type in 1988.

New Zealand J-5Bs included ZK-AYN (c/n 2943) and ZK-BET (c/n 2950).