Photograph:
Auster J-5H Autocar VH-KCO (c/n 2947) at Wongan Hills, WA in 1975 (Roger McDonald)
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Description:
Three/four-seat cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
(J-5H) One 108 kw (145 hp) Blackburn Cirrus Major 2 four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine
(J-5P) One 108 kw (145 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 Mk 1 or 2 four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.97 m (36 ft)
- Length: 7.07 m (23 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.31 m (7 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 17.18 m² (185 sq ft)
- Max speed: 224 km/h (139 mph)
- Cruising speed: 188 km/h (117 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 256 m/min (840 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 4,176 m (13,700 ft)
- Range: 708 km (440 miles)
- Empty weight: 635 kg (1,400 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,089 kg (2,400 lb)
History:
The designation J-5H Autocar was applied to only one aircraft, which was registered in Australia. This aircraft was built as a J-5B VH-ADS (c/n 2047) and was imported by the Australian agents, Kingsford Smith Aviation Service of Bankstown, NSW. First operator was Guinea Airways of Adelaide, SA which used it as a charter and survey aircraft. In 1954 it was obtained by Bush Pilots Airways for agricultural work in north Queensland. This company operated a total of 11 Austers, most of them being a variant of the Autocar series. In 1955 it was fitted with spraying equipment so it could be used in the company’s newly formed agricultural division. However, on the third day of operations it crashed at Mareeba, QLD whilst on spraying work.
Subsequently the company did not involve itself in agricultural work. The accident necessitated a complete rebuild by Kingsford Smith at Bankstown, to where it was transported in a dismantled condition, this including the installation of a 108 kw (145 hp) Cirrus Major 2 four-cylinder engine, this bringing it up to J-5H configuration. It emerged as VH-KCO in September 1957 and had a number of owners, eventually being flown to Western Australia. The J-5H had a 10.97 m (36 ft) wingspan, an empty weight of 635 kg (1,400 lb) and a loaded weight of 1,089 kg (2,400 lb).
The J-5P Autocar was a later development of the J-5B and J-5G and differed from those models mainly in having a different engine, being fitted with a 108 kw (145 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 Mk 2 engine.
Auster J-5P Autocars registered in Australia have included: VH-EDF (c/n 3191 – ex G-AOHF, EI-AJH, G-AOHF); VH-RES (c/n 3192); VH-KCB (c/n 3198); VH-BTE (c/n 3200); VH-KCC (c/n 3251) originally built as a J-5P but in 1988 changed to J-5B configuration; VH-BTG (c/n 3257); VH-BYV (c/n 3163); VH-KDB (c/n 3266) built as a J-5B but later becoming a J-5P; and VH-BPE/VH-WCL (c/n 3259).