Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.
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 Aircraft Corporation of America. 1,604 high-wing Taylorcraft Auster monoplanes were built during World War II for the armed forces of the UK and Canada, primarily for the role of air observation post (AOP).
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 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 tailwheel beneath the fin (except for a low-wing aircraft called the "Agricola" designed for aerial farming work; only nine of these were completed). When the company was merged into Beagle Aircraft in June, 1961, the high-wing design was developed still further as the Terrier and, with a nosewheel, the Airedale.
The Auster name was dropped in 1962 after Beagle Aircraft was created.
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 enlarged windows. Model E – Auster III – re-engined Auster I with split flaps Gipsy Major 1 engine Model F – Auster II – re-engined Auster I Lycoming 0-290-3 engine Model G – 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 – 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 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. 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 Auster D5 J/2 Arrow J/3 Atom – low-powered version of Arrow with Continental engine J/4 – Arrow with Blackburn Cirrus Minor I engine Predecessor of Auster D4/108 J/5 Adventurer – three-seat high-wing monoplane light aircraft Auster J/5 Adventurer Auster J/5A Adventurer 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 J/5 Aiglet Trainer – aerobatic version 32 ft wingspan 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 with 36 ft wingspan 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 two or three seat low-wing monoplane based on the Model G airframe with a Lycoming O-290-3 engine, not built.