- Auster
:"For the Roman god of the south wind, see Anemoi. For the American writer, see
Paul Auster orLawrence Auster ."Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1962.
History
The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works,
Thurmaston nearLeicester ,England , as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of America. 1,604 high-wingTaylorcraft Auster monoplane s were built duringWorld War II for the armed forces of the UK andCanada .The name change to Auster occurred on
7 March 1946 , when production shifted toRearsby aerodrome, also inLeicestershire . All designs were evolved from the early Taylorcraft with a sprung skid or tailwheel beneath the fin (except for a low-wing aircraft called the "Agricola" designed for crop-spraying; only two of these were completed). When the company was merged intoBeagle Aircraft in 1960 the high-wing design was developed still further as the Terrier and, with a nosewheel, the Airedale.The Auster name was dropped in 1968.
Aircraft
* Taylorcraft Plus C - licence-built
Taylorcraft B
* Taylorcraft Plus D - re-engined Plus C.
* Model D/1 - Auster I - military version of Plus C with enlared windows.
* Model E - Auster III - re-engined Auster I with split flaps.
* Model F - Auster II - re-engined Auster I.
* Model G - Auster IV - enlarged version of Auster III.
* Model H - Experimental tandem two-seat training glider converted from Taylorcraft B.
* Model J - Auster V - Auster IV with blind-flying instruments.
* J-1 Autocrat - three-seat high-winged monoplane light aircraft (fitted with Blackburn Cirrus Minor II engine)
** Auster J-1A Autocrat - four-seat version of Autocrat
** Auster J-1B Aiglet - re-engined agricultural version of Autocraft (De Havilland Gipsy Major engine)
** Auster J-1N Alpha - re-engined four-seat Autocrat (De Havilland Gipsy Major engine)
** Auster J-1S Autocrat
* J-1U Workmaster - agricultural version of the Alpha
* J-2 Arrow
* J-3 Atom - low-powered version of Arrow with Continental engine
* J-4 - Arrow with Blackburn Cirrus Minor I engine
* J-5 Autocar
** Auster J-5B Autocar - four-seat high-winged monoplane light aircraft
** Auster J-5E Autocar
** Auster J-5G Autocar
** Auster J-5P Autocar
** Auster J-5V Autocar
* J-5 Aiglet Trainer - aerobatic version of the Autocar
**Auster J-5F Aiglet Trainer
**Auster J-5K Aiglet Trainer
**Auster J-5L Aiglet Trainer
**Auster J-8L Aiglet Trainer
* J-5 Alpine - improved Aiglet Trainer
**Auster J-5R Alpine
**Auster J-5Q Alpine
* Model K -Auster AOP6 - post-war military Air Observation aircraft.
** Auster 6A Tugmaster - glider towing conversion of the Auster 6
** Auster 6B / Beagle Terrier - civil conversion of the Auster 6
* Model L - proposed low-wing monoplane, not built.
* Model M - Auster A2/45 - 2 or 3-seat high-wing AOP aircraft, prototype only.
* Model N - Auster A2/45 - re-engined Model M, prototype only.
* Model P -Auster Avis - four-seater based on J/1 with slimmer fuselage, two built.
* Model Q - Auster T7 - two-seat trainer version of AOP6.
* Model S - AOP aircraft based on AOP6 with enlarged tail, prototype only.
* Model A7 - light twin project, not built.
* Model B1 - mid-wing AOP project, not built.
* Model B3 - radio-controlled target drone.
* Model B4 -Auster B4 - four-seat high-winged ambulance aircraft
* Model B5 -Auster AOP9 - 1950s military air observation aircraft
* Model B6 - low-wing agricultural project, not built.
* Model B8 - Auster B8 Agricola - low-winged agricultural aircraft
* Model B9 - ramjet helicopter project, not built
* Model C4 - Auster Antarctic - modified Auster T7 for Antarctic support.
* Model C6 -Auster Atlantic - four-seat high-wing touring monoplane with tricycle undercarriage, one built.
* Model D4 -Auster D4 - two-seat development of the Auster Arrow.
* Model D5 -Beagle Husky - re-engined version of Auster Alpha with modified tail
* Model D6 -Auster D6 - four-seat development of Auster Autocar
* Model D8 - original designation ofBeagle Airedale .
* Model E8 - AOP9 with modified engines as the AOP11.External links
* [http://www.austerclub.org/company_history/company_history.htm History of company at International Auster Club ]
* [http://www.austerclub.org/type_list/auster_type_list.htm Type listing at International Auster Club website]References
* "The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988" James J.Halley. London: Air-Britain, 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
* "Canada's Flying Gunners" Lt.-Col. D.L. Fromow (Ottawa: Air O.P. Pilot's Association, 2002);
* "Battle History 666" (Calgary: Abel Book Company, 2006)
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