Auster
Encyclopedia
History
The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, ThurmastonThurmaston
Thurmaston is a village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. As of the 2001 census its population was 8,945...
near Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of America. 1,604 high-wing Taylorcraft Auster
Taylorcraft Auster
The Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
s were built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for the armed forces of the UK and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, primarily for the role of Air Observation Post
Air Observation Post
An Air Observation Post is a British military aircraft used for active or passive observation of artillery actions.-History:Air Observation Post is the term used by the Royal Air Force and other services of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth air forces for an aeroplane or helicopter used in the...
.
During the war the head office and drawing office were at a big old house on the outskirts of Thurmaston called "The Woodlands". The fuselages and wings were manufactured at Syston
Syston
Syston is a town and civil parish in the district of Charnwood in Leicestershire, England. The population is 11,508 as of the 2001 Census.-Overview:...
where the works manager was called Sharp. Sheet metalwork was done at the old En tout cas works at Thurmaston. Final assembly, fitting out and testing took place at Rearsby
Rearsby
Rearsby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. The parish has a population of about 1,000. It is on the A607 road between Leicester and Melton Mowbray, and is just south of the River Wreake. Nearby places are East Goscote, Thrussington and Rotherby...
aerodrome. The name changed to Auster (after the Roman name for the south wind) on 7 March 1946, when production shifted to Rearsby aerodrome, all in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. All designs were evolved from the early Taylorcraft with a sprung skid or tailwheel
Conventional landing gear
thumb|The [[Piper PA-18|Piper Super Cub]] is a popular taildragger aircraft.thumb|right|A [[Cessna 150]] converted to taildragger configuration by installation of an after-market modification kit....
beneath the fin (except for a low-wing aircraft called the "Agricola
Auster Agricola
The Auster B8 Agricola was a commercially unsuccessful British agricultural aircraft designed for the aerial topdressing market which opened up in New Zealand in the early 1950s.-Design:...
" designed for crop-spraying
Aerial application
Aerial application, commonly called crop dusting, involves spraying crops with fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides from an agricultural aircraft. The specific spreading of fertilizer is also known as aerial topdressing....
; only two of these were completed). When the company was merged into Beagle Aircraft
Beagle Aircraft
Beagle Aircraft Limited was a British light aircraft manufacturer of types such as the Airedale, Bassett, Husky and Pup. It had factories at Rearsby in Leicestershire and Shoreham in Sussex...
in June, 1961, the high-wing design was developed still further as the Terrier and, with a nosewheel
Tricycle gear
Tricycle gear describes an aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has one wheel in the front, called the nose wheel, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity...
, the Airedale.
The various Auster models were extensively used in the UK and British colonies after WWII for a variety of activities such as Air Observation Post
Air Observation Post
An Air Observation Post is a British military aircraft used for active or passive observation of artillery actions.-History:Air Observation Post is the term used by the Royal Air Force and other services of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth air forces for an aeroplane or helicopter used in the...
(AOP), mail delivery, VIP transport, private owner flights and joy rides at seaside airports and town carnivals.
The Auster name was dropped in 1968.
Aircraft
- Taylorcraft Plus CTaylorcraft AusterThe Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
– licence-built Taylorcraft BTaylorcraft B-See also:... - Taylorcraft Plus DTaylorcraft AusterThe Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
– re-engined Plus C. - Model D/1 – Auster ITaylorcraft AusterThe Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
– military version of Plus C with enlarged windows. - Model E – Auster IIITaylorcraft AusterThe Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
– re-engined Auster I with split flaps. - Model F – Auster IITaylorcraft AusterThe Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
– re-engined Auster I. - Model G – Auster IVTaylorcraft AusterThe Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
– enlarged version of Auster III. - Model H – Experimental tandem two-seat training glider converted from Taylorcraft B.
- Model J – Auster VTaylorcraft AusterThe Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
– Auster IV with blind-flying instruments. - J/1 AutocratAuster Autocrat-External links:*...
– 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 Autocrat (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 WorkmasterAuster Workmaster-See also:...
– agricultural version of the Alpha - J/2 ArrowAuster Arrow-References:*Mike Preston and Mick Ames, 2002, "Austers", International Auster Club Heritage Group Publication, ISBN 0-9543889-0-9-See also:...
- J/3 AtomAuster Atom-External links:* * * * * -See also:...
– low-powered version of Arrow with ContinentalContinental Motors CompanyContinental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in...
engine - J/4Auster J-4-See also:...
– Arrow with Blackburn Cirrus Minor I engine - J/5 AdventurerAuster Adventurer-References:NotesBibliography...
– three-seat high-wing monoplane light aircraft- Auster J/5 Adventurer
- Auster J/5A Adventurer
- J/5 AutocarAuster Autocar-References:...
- 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 TrainerAuster Aiglet Trainer-See also:...
– 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 AlpineAuster Alpine-See also:...
– improved Aiglet Trainer- Auster J/5R Alpine
- Auster J/5Q Alpine
- Model K – Auster AOP6 – post-war military Air Observation aircraft.
- Auster 6A TugmasterAuster Tugmaster|-See also:...
– glider towing conversion of the Auster 6 - Auster 6B / Beagle Terrier – civil conversion of the Auster 6
- Auster 6A Tugmaster
- Model L – proposed two or three seat low-wing monoplane based on the Model G airframe with a Lycoming O-290-3 engine, not built.
- Model M – Auster A.2/45 – 2 or 3-seat high-wing AOP aircraft, prototype only.
- Model N – Auster A.2/45 – re-engined Model M, prototype only.
- Model P – Auster AvisAuster Avis-See also:...
– 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 – parasol-wing agricultural project with bubble canopy, not built.
- Model B8 – Auster B8 AgricolaAuster AgricolaThe Auster B8 Agricola was a commercially unsuccessful British agricultural aircraft designed for the aerial topdressing market which opened up in New Zealand in the early 1950s.-Design:...
– 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 HuskyBeagle Husky-See also:...
– re-engined version of Auster Alpha with modified tail - Model D6 – Auster D6 – four-seat development of Auster Autocar
- Model D8 – original designation of Beagle AiredaleBeagle Airedale|-See also:-External links:*...
. - Model E8 – AOP9 with modified engines as the AOP11.