Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Four-seat cabin monoplane

Power Plant:

One 116 kw (155 hp) Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The Auster J-5G Cirrus Autocar was a more powerful variant of the Auster J-5B Autocar and had some strengthening to allow for the installation of a more powerful engine, this involving the installation of several extra tubular front members. Otherwise the J-5G was similar to the earlier model and had the same horn-balanced elevators as were installed on the J-5F Aiglet Trainer. The J-5G Cirrus Autocar had the Cirrus Major 3 engine, the first example of this model being flown in July 1951. About 90 examples were built.

The J-5G was a strut-braced high-wing monoplane. The wing was braced by streamlined steel tube V-struts on each side, the structure consisting of laminated spruce spars, the ribs of drawn-section being light alloy with steel drag struts and tie-rod internal bracing. The tail unit was of braced monoplane type, with welded steel tube fairings with fabric covering. The fuselage was of rectangular section welded steel tube structure with fabric covering.

In 1959 Kingsford Smith Aviation Service based at Bankstown, NSW, converted a J-5G VH-KCD (c/n 3189) by fitting a 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360 engine. This conversion had additional sound-proofing, more comfortable seats, wheel fairings, an oil cooler and full instrumentation. It was destroyed when it overturned near Echuca, VIC on 25 January 1974. This aircraft, known as the Kingsford Smith Bushmaster, was to be the first of a series of aircraft upgraded by the company but only the single example was completed. It was also proposed at the time to fit a tricycle undercarriage but the Bushmaster remained with its tailwheel undercarriage.

Two J-5G Cirrus Autocars were operated by the Royal Australian Navy as A11-300 and A11-301, being conveyed to Australia from Britain on board the aircraft carrier ‘HMAS Sydney’, for some years from 1953 to 1963 when they were sold to the civil market. A11-300 was returned to the Museum of Flight at ‘HMAS Albatross’ in mid-2001, restored and placed on display. The Navy aircraft when in service were based at ‘HMAS Albatross’, Nowra, NSW where they were used as communications aircraft and for general transport.

Another J-5G Cirrus Autocar has been obtained by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Museum at Albion Park, NSW, has also been painted as one of the Navy aircraft, A11-301, and has been placed on display with the registration VH-NVY.

In New Zealand a J-5G Cirrus Autocar ZK-BDJ (c/n 3069) was fitted with a Lycoming engine. The designation J-5GL Autocar was applied to a J-5G Autocar which as ZK-CXA was rebuilt in New Zealand to take a Lycoming engine. Other New Zealand J-5Gs included: ZK-BDK (c/n 3070) and ZK-BDN (c/n 3262).

Australian registered J-5Gs Cirrus Autocars included: VH-BYP (c/n 2945); VH-BYD (c/n 2955); VH-BYI (c/n 2957); VH-BYH (c/n 2958); VH-ADX (c/n 2982 – ex G-AMKG) which crashed at Portland, VIC on 19 January 1974; A11-300 / VH-MBF (c/n 3059); A11-301 / VH-MRD (c/n 3064 – ex PT-ANO); VH-PSM (c/n 3079); VH-BYT (c/n 3091 – ex G-ANSW); VH-FAM (c/n 3094) and VH-AZK (c/n 3095 – ex G-ANVG).

Further examples included: VH-BSX (c/n 3098); VH-BTA (c/n 3099); VH-KCA (c/n 3158 – G-ANVM) which crashed in March 1959; VH-KCE (c/n 3158 – ex G-ANVT); VH-API/VH-KEV (c/n 3160); VH-BYV (c/n 3163); VH-BSZ (c/n 3168); VH-BTB (c/n 3172) which crashed at Warnervale, NSW on 14 January 1982; VH-RAD/VH-WWB (c/n 3173); VH-KCG (c/n 3188); VH-KCD (c/n 3189), noted above as converted to Bushmaster configuration, which crashed at Echuca, VIC on 25 January 1974; VH-KCF (c/n 3196); VH-RDL (c/n 3254); VH-WED (c/n 3263) which was fitted with a Lycoming O-360 engine, becoming known as a J-5G/A2; and VH-KCY (c/n 3267).