Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Three-seat air-observation-post monoplane

Power Plant:

(Mk 4) One 97 kw (130 hp) Lycoming O-290-3 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
(Mk 5) One 97 kw (130 hp) Lycoming O-290-3/1 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
(Mk 5D) One 97 kw (130 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major 1 or 1F four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The Auster series of light aircraft was developed from the Taylorcraft series of light cabin monoplanes designed in the United States by C Gilbert Taylor, who had emigrated from Nottingham, UK and produced by Taylorcraft. Taylor’s company was acquired by William Piper and, whilst still with the company, Taylor designed the E-2 Cub. He left that organisation in 1935 and formed a new company, Taylor-Young Aeroplane Co.

A licence was obtained to build and market the Taylorcraft series in the United Kingdom and Europe by Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Ltd at its Thurmaston plant in Leicester, the first production model being the Plus C which was first flown in May 1939, this being the Taylorcraft Model B with some modifications. By the time war broke out in 1939 some 20 examples had been completed.

At that time there was a requirement by the British military for a light liaison and communications aircraft and the British manufacturer fitted a 67 kw (90 hp) Cirrus Minor I engine in place of the 41 kw (55 hp) Lycoming O-145-A2 unit. Development led to the AOP-3 which had the 97 kw (130 hp) Lycoming O-290-3 Mk 2 engine or the 97 kw (130 hp) de Havilland Gipsy Major Mk 3. Further development led to the AOP-4 (Model G) and the AOP-5 (Model J).

In about 1950 Auster decided to install a Gipsy Major engine in the Mk 5 to replace the Lycoming. This model became the Auster 5D. This model also received the enlarged vertical tail surfaces that were fitted to the J-1B Aiglet. The first aircraft converted to 5D configuration was an AOP-5 (TW453 – c/n 1793) which received a new construction number 2666. The Mk 5C was a conversion of an AOP-5 (TJ187), which had a Gipsy Major I engine. It became G-ALKI and was used by Grp Capt Alan H Wheeler who, in the 1950 King’s Cup Race, came third at an average speed of 213 km/h (132.5 mph).

In 1945 Auster Aircraft Ltd was formed, the licence agreement having expired, and production of light aircraft continued, the J-2 being the first new model with a 75 kw (100 hp) Cirrus Minor II engine and some cabin changes.

The Mk 4, known as the Model G, and the Mk 5, known as the Model J, were air-observation-post aircraft used by the RAF during World War II. Large numbers were declared obsolete in 1953 and the survivors were sold. Some 148 refurbished examples were placed on the British Civil Aircraft Register. One batch of 34 was obtained from the British Air Ministry by R K Dundas Ltd of Elstree in Hertfordshire for conversion to civil aircraft.

One Mk 5 (G-ANDU) was obtained and used by Sky Neon Aviation Co Ltd of Croydon, UK and fitted with underwing neon lighting for night advertising in the Birmingham area, and was known as the Auster 5M. Similar modifications were made to G-AJYP in 1951.

A few found their way to Australia, a couple via the Singapore Flying Club. These were privately owned and a few survive. VH-SEB (c/n 1916 – ex VR-SEB, VR-SDY, TW522), a Mk 5, was fitted with the wings of a J-5F. This aircraft was fitted with floats whilst in Singapore. It later became VR-SDY in 1957 with the Royal Singapore Flying Club. It was obtained by Mr J Doudy who imported it to South Australia after it had been involved in an accident on 16 February 1958. It was rebuilt as VH-SEB and at this time the ‘glasshouse’ at the rear of the cabin was replaced by stringers and covered with fabric to make it look like a J-4. Wings from a Mk 5 were fitted, together with split flaps.

VH-SED (c/n 1668 – ex VR-SED, G-APIC, TJ651) was a Mk 5 which carried the name ‘Spirit of Singapore’ and was hangared at Bankstown, NSW for some years. This aircraft was one of three Mk 5s taken on charge by the Royal Navy at Sembawang in Singapore on 30 October 1946.  It returned to the United Kingdom in 1948 and was sold becoming G-APIC in November 1957.  It was flown back to Singapore where it became VR-SED in December 1958, before being flown by its owner, Ms B Baudin, to Australia.

VH-SDQ (c/n 804 – ex VR-SDQ, G-AJYP, MS939) was never actually registered although it was painted on the aircraft.  It carried the name ‘Miss Pepsi Cola’ and had soft-drink advertisements on the fuselage.  It also spent some years in a hangar at Bankstown before it was eventually rebuilt and registered as VH-MKV.

Other aircraft of this series which were registered included: VH-DDW/VH-AZJ/VH-BHA (c/n 881 – ex G-ANGX, MT108); and VH-SNG/VH-ILS/VH-AZO (c/n 846 – ex G-ANHM, MT137) which was rebuilt in 1990 as VH-HPM and painted in its wartime camouflage having based at Mackay, QLD.   These two aircraft were both Auster Mk 4s.

Auster Mk 5 aircraft were VH-ABA (c/n 1050 – ex G-AJJR, NJ667); VH-AZI (c/n 1013 – ex G-AMII, NJ626); VH-AJD (c/n 2052 – ex G-ALKJ, TW508) which crashed at Hobley Station, WA on 14 August 1950; VH-ASP (c/n 1115 – ex G-AMDS, NJ738) which crashed at Cardabia, WA on 30 January 1952; VH-ARX (c/n 1827 – ex G-AMFT, TW498); VH-BGN (c/n 1807 – ex G-ANGA, TW468) which was destroyed by fire on 5 August 1957; VH-BYN (c/n 996 – ex MT361) which crashed on 3 May 1967; VH-AHQ (c/n 1349 – ex TJ260) which was destroyed by fire at Bankstown, NSW on 22 September 1960; VH-AZV (c/n 1736 – ex TW371); VH-AGQ/VH-CKD (c/n 1348 – ex TJ262); and VH-BYM (c/n 1772 – ex TW433).

Perhaps the most famous of the civil Auster Mk 5 aircraft was VH-RCA (c/n 1364 – ex TJ272) which caused problems for Sydney air-traffic control when it repeatedly circled the city in a protest action by its pilot.  It was eventually exported to New Zealand.

Auster Mk 5s registered in New Zealand over the years have included: ZK-AUH (c/n 1834 – ex G-AJVU, TW502); ZK-AVF (c/n 1516); ZK-AVG (c/n 1036); ZK-AVH (c/n 1412 – ex G-AKOU, TJ342) which has been restored in its wartime camouflage; and ZK-AVU (c/n 889 – ex G-AIKA, MT118) which was built as a Mk 4, later converted to Mk 5 configuration, and in 1967 converted to J-1Y configuration, spending some years with the North Otago Gliding Club at Oamaru; ZK-AWD (c/n 1105); ZK-AXP ( c/n 1586 – ex G-AKPJ, TJ567); ZK-AXQ (c/n 1650); ZK-AVB (c/n 895); ZK-AVX (c/n 1435); and ZK-AWU (c/n 1828).

The Mk 4 and Mk 5 series has been one of the most common registered variants of the Auster in New Zealand. Airworthy examples include: Mk 5Cs ZK-AZF (c/n 1272 – ex G-ALKI, TJ187) and ZK-ARR (c/n 1364  – ex VH-RCA); Mk 5s ZK-AUH  and ZK-AVH (as above); Mk 5Ds ZK-BGU (c/n 1757 – ex G-ANHY, TW387) and ZK-BMD (c/n 1035 – G-ALZM, NJ635); and Mk 5 ZK-AXP (c/n 1586) which has been in storage awaiting restoration.

ZK-BMD (c/n 1035) began life with the RAF as a Mk 5 (NJ635) and operated in West Berlin, Germany.  It became G-ALZM in the United Kingdom and was fitted with a Gipsy Major engine, thus becoming a Mk 5D.  It was imported to New Zealand in 1955 and joined Aerial Work at Marlborough.  It later saw service with the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Clubs before, in 1978, being fitted with a Lycoming O-320 engine and the wing from ex-RNZAF Auster NZ1704 at Timaru.