Auster AOP.9

infobox Aircraft
name = Auster AOP9
type = observation aircraft
manufacturer = Auster Aircraft Limited

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caption =
designer =
first flight =
introduced = 1955
retired =
status =
primary user = Army Air Corps
more users = Royal Air Force, South African Air Force
produced =
number built = 145
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Auster AOP9 was a British military air observation aircraft ("Air Observation Post") produced by Auster Aircraft Limited to replace the Auster AOP6.

History

The Auster AOP9 was designed as a successor to the Auster AOP6, although having the same general appearance the AOP9 was a new design with a larger wing and engine. It had a 180 hp (134 kW) Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier engine, this gave the aircraft an improved take-off and landing performance over earlier AOP aircraft. It could operate from ploughed fields and muddy surfaces using low pressure tyres and strengthend undercarriage. The aircraft was also designed to be converted into a light transport with an interchangeable rear floor.

The prototype first flew 19 March 1954 and deliveries started to the Royal Air Force in February 1955. The aircraft were soon in operation in Malaya during Operation Firedog, with 656 Squadron flying 143,000 sorties. In September 1957 the Army Air Corps was formed and all the aircraft were transferred to Army control from the RAF. The Army started to gain an interest in operating helicopters and the AOP9 was not developed further.

Variants

;Auster AOP.9:Main production version, 145 built.;Auster AOP.11:Three-seat STOL AOP prototype. The aircraft was not developed. Only one built.;Auster 9M:A number of army surplus aircraft were bought by Captain M. Somewton-Rayer in 1967. The aircraft were fitted with 180-hp (134-kW) Avco Lycoming O-360-A1D piston engines.;Beagle A.11S (E.3):The Auster AOP.11 prototype was sold to a civil custom in 1971.

Operators

Military operators

;flag|Hong Kong|colonial
*Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force;IND:
*Indian Air Force
*Indian Army;flag|South Africa|1928:
*South African Air Force;UK:
*Army Air Corps
*Royal Air Force

pecifications (AOP9)

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=3
length main= 23 ft 8½ in
length alt= 7.24 m
span main= 36 ft 5 in
span alt= 11.10 m
height main= 8 ft 11 in
height alt= 2.72 m
area main= 197.5 ft²
area alt= 18.35 m²
empty weight main= 1,590 lb
empty weight alt= 721 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main= 2,330 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1057 kg
engine (prop)=Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier 203
type of prop= inline piston
number of props=1
power main= 180 hp
power alt= 134 kw
max speed main= 127 mph
max speed alt= 204 km/h
range main= 242 miles
range alt= 389 km
ceiling main= 19,500 ft
ceiling alt= 5945 m
climb rate main= 930 ft/min
climb rate alt= 285 m/min
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
armament=

References

*cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|year= |publisher= Orbis Publishing|location= |issn=
*cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1|year= 1974|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0 370 10006 9

External links

ee also

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