Editing Auster Aircraft

{{Short description|British aircraft manufacturer (1938–1960)}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Auster Aircraft
|logo =
|type  =
|image = RAF Manston History Museum Auster AOP5 RT486 01.jpg
|fate = Merged with [[Beagle Aircraft]].
|successor =
|foundation = 1938 (as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited)
|defunct = 1960
|location = [[Rearsby]], [[Leicestershire]], UK
|industry = Aerospace
|key_people =
|products =
|num_employees =
|parent =
|subsid =
}}

'''Auster Aircraft Limited''' was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.<ref name="Willis1">Willis, issue 122, p.55</ref>

==History==
The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, [[Thurmaston]] near [[Leicester]], England, as '''Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Limited''', making light observation aircraft designed by the [[Taylorcraft|Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation]] of America.  1,604 high-wing [[Taylorcraft Auster]] [[monoplane]]s were built during [[World War II]] for the armed forces of the UK and [[Canada]], primarily for the role of [[air observation post]] (AOP).

[[File:Auster J.1N Alpha G-AGXN RBY 26.03.66 edited-5.jpg|thumb|right|Auster Alpha parked in front of Auster's original assembly facilities at Rearsby in 1966]]

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]] under the works manager by the name of Sharp. Sheet metalwork was done at the old 'en tout cas' works at Thurmaston. Final assembly, fitting out and testing took place at [[Rearsby]] aerodrome. The name changed to Auster (after [[Notus#Auster|the Roman name for the south wind]]) on 7 March 1946, when production shifted to Rearsby aerodrome, all in [[Leicestershire]].  All designs were evolved from the early Taylorcraft with a sprung skid or [[Conventional landing gear|tailwheel]] beneath the fin (except for a low-wing aircraft called the "[[Auster Agricola|Agricola]]" designed for [[Aerial application|aerial farming work]]; only nine of these were completed).  When the company was merged into [[Beagle Aircraft]] in June, 1961,<ref name="Willis1" /> the high-wing design was developed still further as the [[Beagle Terrier|Terrier]] and, with a [[Tricycle gear|nosewheel]], the Airedale.

The Auster name was dropped in 1962 after [[Beagle Aircraft]] was created.

==Aircraft==
[[File:auster autocrat 5j1 g-ajee of 1946 arp.jpg|thumb|Auster Autocrat 5J1, built 1946]]
[[File:auster.aiglet.g-amzt.arp.jpg|thumb|right|[[Auster Aiglet Trainer|Auster J/5F Aiglet Trainer]] of 1953]]
[[File:Beagle auster a61 terrier g-arui.arp.jpg|thumb|right|[[Beagle Terrier|Beagle A.61 Terrier]] of 1962]]
* [[Taylorcraft Auster|Taylorcraft Plus C]] – licence-built [[Taylorcraft B]]
* [[Taylorcraft Auster|Taylorcraft Plus D]] – re-engined Plus C.
* Model D/1 – [[Taylorcraft Auster|Auster I]] – military version of Plus C with enlarged windows.
* Model E – [[Taylorcraft Auster|Auster III]] – re-engined Auster I with split flaps Gipsy Major 1 engine
* Model F – [[Taylorcraft Auster|Auster II]] – re-engined Auster I Lycoming 0-290-3 engine
* Model G – [[Taylorcraft Auster|Auster IV]] – Modified fuselage with extended rear cabin glazing and Lycoming 0-290-3 engine
* Model H – Experimental tandem two-seat training glider converted from Taylorcraft B.
* Model J – [[Taylorcraft Auster|Auster V]] – As Auster IV with blind-flying instruments and Vacuum System Lycoming 0-290-3/1 engine
* [[Auster J family]]
** Mk 5 – Civil conversion of Auster V with Lycoming 0-290-3(C) engines
** Mk 5 Alpha – new-build Auster Mk5 aircraft with Lycoming 0-290-3(C) engines 
** Mk5-150 – Conversion of Civil Auster V with Lycoming 0-320 engine
** [[Auster Autocrat|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 Autocrat ([De Havilland Gipsy Major1] engine)
** Auster J/1N – Conversion of Auster J/1 Autocrat from Cirrus MinorII engine to Gipsy Major1 engine. 
** Auster J/1N Alpha – NEW built Auster J/1N aircraft (De Havilland Gipsy Major1 engine)
** Auster J/1S Autocrat – Conversion to De-Havilland Gipsy Major10 Mk2 engine.
** [[Auster Workmaster|J/1U Workmaster]] – agricultural version of the Alpha Lycoming 0-360 engine
** Auster J/1Y – Conversion of Auster J/1 Series to Lycoming 0-320 Engine Predecessor of Auster D5/160 [[Beagle Husky|Auster D5]]<ref>Wenham 2015, p. 42.</ref>
* [[Auster Arrow|J/2 Arrow]]
* [[Auster Atom|J/3 Atom]] – low-powered version of Arrow with [[Continental Motors Company|Continental]] engine
* [[Auster J-4|J/4]] – Arrow with [[Blackburn Cirrus Minor]] I engine Predecessor of Auster D4/108
* [[Auster Adventurer|J/5 Adventurer]] – three-seat high-wing monoplane light aircraft
** Auster J/5 Adventurer
** Auster J/5A Adventurer
* [[Auster Autocar|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/5T Autocar – one only built
** Auster J/5V Autocar
* [[Auster Aiglet Trainer|J/5 Aiglet Trainer]] – aerobatic version 32&nbsp;ft wingspan
** Auster J/5F Aiglet Trainer
** Auster J/5K Aiglet Trainer
** Auster J/5L Aiglet Trainer
** Auster J/8L Aiglet Trainer
* [[Auster Alpine|J/5 Alpine]] – improved Aiglet Trainer with 36&nbsp;ft wingspan
** Auster J/5R Alpine
** Auster J/5Q Alpine
* Model K – [[Auster AOP6]] – post-war military Air Observation aircraft.
** [[Auster Tugmaster|Auster 6A Tugmaster]] – glider towing conversion of the Auster 6
** [[Beagle Terrier|Auster 6B / Beagle Terrier]] – civil conversion of the Auster 6
* 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.

[[File:Auster M ATP 018173 C.jpg|thumb|right|The Auster A.2/45 second prototype, ''[[United Kingdom military aircraft serial numbers|VL523]]'', of 1949]]
* Model M – [[Auster A.2/45]] – 2 or 3-seat high-wing AOP aircraft, prototype only.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201529.html "Britain's Aircraft: Auster A.2/45"]. ''[[Flight International|Flight]]'' 8 September 1949, p. 293</ref>
* Model N – Auster A.2/45 – re-engined Model M, prototype only.
* Model P – [[Auster Avis]] – four-seater based on J/1 with slimmer fuselage, two built.
* Model Q – [[Auster AOP6|Auster T7]] – two-seat trainer version of AOP6.
* [[Auster Model S|Model S]] – AOP aircraft based on AOP6 with enlarged tail, prototype only.
* Model A3 – two-seat light aircraft project with a Blackburn Cirrus Minor engine, not built.
* Model A4 – two-seat development project of current (1948) designs with a Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2 engine, not built.
* Model A5 – four-seat army co-operation project with a De Havilland Gipsy Major 10 engine, two version planned a conventional landing gear for air ambulance work and a tricycle landing gear version for communications and reconnaissance work, not built.
* Model A6 – variant of the A4 with a Cirrus Minor engine driving a geared ducted fan, not built.
* Model A7 – light twin project, not built.
* Model A8 – three-seat AOP project with a Bombardier engine, not built. 
* Model A9 – Project to meet a Royal Air Force requirement for a two-seat training aircraft, the [[Percival Provost]] was selected and the A9 was 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 Agricola|Auster B8 Agricola]] – low-winged agricultural aircraft
* Model B9 – ramjet helicopter project, not built
* Model C4 – [[Auster AOP6|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 – Auster D5 – re-engined version of Auster Alpha with modified tail, developed as the [[Beagle Husky]]
* Model D6 – [[Auster D6]] – four-seat development of Auster Autocar
* Model D8 – original designation of [[Beagle Airedale]].
* Model E3 – AOP9 with modified engine as the [[Auster AOP9|AOP11]].

==See also==
{{aircontent
|see also=
* [[Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom]]
|related=
*[[Taylorcraft B]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Aeronca Champion]]
* [[Aeronca L-3]]
*[[Fieseler Fi 156|Fieseler Fi 156 Storch]]
*[[Repülőgépgyár Levente II|Levente II]]
*[[Piper J-3 Cub]]
|lists=
}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==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)
* ''The History of the Auster Aeroplane (Revised 3rd Ed.)'' Ambrose Hitchman and Mike Preston. International Auster Club Heritage Group, 2006.
* {{cite book | last = Wenham | first = Tom | title = False Dawn – The Beagle Aircraft Story | publisher = [[Air-Britain]] | year = 2015 | isbn = 978 0 85130 479 3}}
* {{Cite journal
|last1= Willis
|first1= David
|year= 2006
|title= Military Auster A to Z: Unarmed and in the frontline
|journal= [[Air Enthusiast]]
|publisher= [[Key Publishing]]
|volume=January/February 2006
|issue= 121
|pages=40–57
|issn=0143-5450 }}
* {{Cite journal
|last1= Willis
|first1= David
|year= 2006
|title= Military Auster A to Z: Post-war use and experimentals
|journal= [[Air Enthusiast]]
|publisher= [[Key Publishing]]
|volume=March/April 2006
|issue= 122
|pages=42–57
|issn=0143-5450 }}
* {{Cite journal
|last1= Willis
|first1= David
|year= 2006
|title= Military Auster A to Z: In different colours – Exports
|journal= [[Air Enthusiast]]
|publisher= [[Key Publishing]]
|volume=May/June 2006
|issue= 123
|pages=64–72
|issn=0143-5450 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Auster Aircraft Limited}}
* [https://austerclub.org/history/auster-history/ History of company at International Auster Club ]
* [https://austerhg.org/type_list/ Type listing at Auster Heritage Group website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120502172646/http://www.museumvlbdeelen.nl/de-exposities/auster-restauratie Auster in Museum Vliegbasis Deelen]

{{Auster aircraft}}
{{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom}}
{{BAE Systems evolution}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:British companies established in 1938]]
[[Category:Companies based in Leicestershire]]
[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Leicestershire]]