Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite
Dutch Modelling and Aviation
Taylorcraft Auster Mk. III
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History
The origin of the Auster refers back to an American sport aircraft, the Taylorcraft Auster B.
The English factory Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited acquired the license rights in 1939 and built Model C with a Lycoming 0-145 A2 of 55 hp. The Auster Plus Model C was a version with a 65 hp Lycoming engine.
Soon a version, designated Model Plus D, equipped a British engine, a Blackburn Cirrus Minor I 90 hp, was developed. This engine was not only powerful, but also quieter .
Of this version over 100 examples were built and it entered service as Auster I in 1941, a so-called Air Observation Post (AOP) aircraft for use by the British Army.
The Auster II, a version with an American Lycoming 0-290 engine, never entered production because the engine was hardly available at that time.
This led to the development of the Auster Mark III which had the Lycoming engine replaced by a DeHavilland Gipsy Major. Noteworthy were the individual exhaust pipes for each cylinder .
The next version, the Auster Mark IV was provided with an enlarged cabin and was equipped with the engine Lycoming 0-290.
The Auster Mark V was a blind fly version of the Auster IV.
Shortly after the end of the war the Auster VI was developed from the Auster IV/V and was fitted an extended undercarriage and "airfoil flaps", so that it had better starting characteristics than the previous versions .
As an engine DeHavilland Gipsy Major was applied and further the (internal) fuel supply was increased.
During and immediately after World War II, the Auster was used for artillery observation, evacuation and light transport. Since the 60s of the 20th century, these tasks were mainly done by helicopters.
Versions.
- Taylorcraft Plus C:
- Original civil version with a Lycoming 0-145 engine - A2 , 23 examples built .
- Taylorcraft Plus C2:
- C Plus with 90 hp Cirrus Minor I built for the Royal Air Force . Taylorcraft Plus D:
- C Plus with a 90 hp Cirrus Minor I engine , built nine pieces .
- Taylorcraft Auster I - Military Plus D , built 100 examples.
- Taylorcraft Auster II - Auster I with a Lycoming 0-290 engine .
- Taylorcraft Auster III - Auster I with a DeHavilland Gipsy Major engine, built 470 examples.
- Taylorcraft Auster IV:
- three seater version 0-290 engine and larger cabin with a Lycoming, 254 examples built.
- Taylorcraft Auster V - Auster IV with blind flight instruments , built about 800 examples.
- Taylorcraft Auster Agricola:
- for agricultural purposes
Dimensions: | |||
Length: | 7,23 m | Wingspan: | 10,97 m |
Height: | 2,44 m | Wing area: | 17 m2 |
Weights: | |||
Empty weight: | 495 kg | Max. start weight: | 770 kg |
Performances: | |||
Max. speed: | 195 km/hr | Climbing speed: | - m/min |
Cruising speed: | 175 km/hr | ||
Range: | 475 km | Service ceiling: | - m |
Miscellaneous: | |||
Engine type: | One DeHavilland Gipsy Major rated 150 hp | ||
Crew: | - | ||
Armament: | None |