Auster AOP.6


The Auster AOP.6 was a British military air observation aircraft produced by Auster Aircraft Limited to replace the numerous wartime Taylorcraft Auster aircraft then in-service.

History

The Auster AOP.6 was designed as a successor to the Taylorcraft Auster V, it had a strengthened fuselage, increased all-up weight and a 145 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major 7 engine. It had a different appearance to the wartime Austers due to the lengthened landing gear struts, and external non-retractable aerofoil flaps.
An initial production run of 296 were completed for the Royal Air Force in 1949. A second batch was produced from 1952 with a total delivered of around 400. Some aircraft ordered by the Royal Air Force aircraft were diverted to the Belgian Air Force and the Royal [Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force]. New aircraft were delivered to Royal Canadian Air Force, South African Air Force, and the Arab Legion Air Force.
A dual-control training version of the AOP.6 was produced, 77 serving as the Auster T.7. These flew alongside the AOP.6 in the AOP squadrons.
In 1955 two T.7 aircraft were modified for use on the 1956 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, being designated Auster Antarctic. The aircraft had extra radio equipment, larger tail surfaces, the ability to be fitted with floats or skis as required and a bright yellow finish to increase visibility against the snow and ice.
The aircraft was gradually replaced with the Auster AOP.9 from 1955 and surplus aircraft were converted to civilian use, first as the Auster 6A and later as the Beagle A.61 Terrier.

Variants

Production

;Model K - Auster AOP.6
;Model Q - Auster T.7
;Auster AOP.8

Conversions

;Auster T.7 Antarctic
;Auster T.10
;Auster 6A Tugmaster
;Beagle A.61 Terrier
;Marshalls MA.4

Operators

Military operators

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File:Auster T.7C Antarctic WE563 Wigram NZ 03.03.92R.jpg|thumb|right|One of the two T.7C Antarctic aircraft with skis on display at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Wigram, near Christchurch in March 1992
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