Ahhhh ! Auster !!

[johnwickenden]

Taking a break from final work on the MILDENHALL AIR FETE BOOK (shameless plug....contact myself or Mick Britton (F3) for more details or to register interest)..... I thought it's about time I shared a few more photos of some oldies but goodies.

My day job sees me travelling around the UK visiting GA airfields (and sometimes RAF bases too) which means that I am lucky enough to have the chance to photograph a huge variety of types - most not relevent to this auguste forum.

I have always had a 'thing' about Auster / Beagle aircraft and, if I had enough money I would buy one as my very own 'Gentleman's aerial conveyance'. What follows are a few of the Beautiful Bird from Rearsby - in military marks - that I have seen on my travels

Firstly AOP10 VF516 / G-ASMZ based at Eshott in Northumberland and civilianised as an A61 Terrier
G-ASMZ-AOP6-Eshott-090921 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Next up is AOP9 XR241 / G-CEHR which is based in the Midlands but is seen here a long way from home at Oban Airport
G-CEHR-Auster-Oban-260618 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Maurice Hammond is famous for his two P-51s , but he also owns this Taylorcraft Auster 5 TJ565 / G-AMVD, seen at his private Strip, Airfield Farm, Hardwick
G-AMVD-Hardwick by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Auster 6A VF512 / G-ARRX makes a spirited departure from Popham
G-ARRX by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Auster T7 (A61 Terrier) WE569 / G-ASAJ was exhibited in the static at Farnborough 2012
G-ASAJ / WE569 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Auster 6A TW541 / G-ARIH seen outside Mick Allen's sprayshop at Turweston. This was sold in the Czech Republic in 2020
G-ARIH by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Another A61 Terrier is WJ368 / G-ASZX is flown by the wonderfully talented Richard Webber, Auster restorer extrordinaire, from his strip at Trenchard Farm, Eggesford high in the North Devon Hills
G-ASZX-Eggesford by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

AOP9 WZ706 / G-BURR seen hangared at Darley Moor Airfield, near Ashbourne
G-BURR-DarleyMoor by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Perhaps one of the least seen warbird Austers is XR246 / G-AZBU which is based on a strip near Melton Mowbray and never seems to travel very far !
G-AZBU-Sywell-1 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Auster 5D TW519/G-ANHX seen at Yeovilton Air Show 2019, where it is currently based
G-ANHX-TW519-AusterAOP6-YVL-070718 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Another A61 Terrier WJ404 / G-ASOI which is based at the Bidford Gliding Club near Stratford
G-ASOI by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr


There's more to come...then maybe I'll move onto the Chippie !

[Yorky]

Nice shots as i do like an Auster as well.

[eLaReF]

Great pix
By coincidence I saw an Auster flying last week - Can't remember when the previous time was!
I also hadn't realised how noisy it was in comparison to all the bumble-bee powered devices on the field at Scone, although the Workmaster must be one of the largest in the breed.
Apologies for it being a civvie

G-APMH Auster Aircraft J/1U Workmaster msn 3502 by eLaReF, on Flickr

[johnwickenden]

Not too many Austers left up in Scotland now unfortunately. The J/1U was a bit of a beast...bigger and heavier than the rest of the J/1s it was Austers first attempt at cropspraying.

[Mustang531]

Yes, I've always had a soft spot for Austers. I note the AOP9 in the second pic, shown as XR241. It's wearing XP241. I remember XR241 as the one in the all yellow scheme, that was once part of the Shuttleworth Collection years ago, until it was sold off.

[mancman]

Thanks for posting. Austers often get overlooked by the more sexy heavy metal warbirds. I don't often get an excuse to post at this end of the warbird spectrum, hence I hope you don't mind a couple of contributions including an interloper from Beagle.

WZ711 Auster AOP9 July 1990 Middle Wallop by Andy Bird, on Flickr

XW635 Beagle Husky RAF Sept 1990 Abingdon by Andy Bird, on Flickr

[Mustang531]

Another pair of nice shots, thanks for sharing these.

[johnwickenden]

A few more

Auster 5 NJ689 / G-ALXZ at Breighton
G-ALXZ-Breighton by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Taylorcraft Auster 5 TJ343 / G-AJXC seen shortly after it finished its long term rebuild at Henstridge
G-AJXC-Henstridge by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Auster 5 TW439 / G-ANRP at RIAT 2018
366-G-ANRP-Auster-Fairford-1607128 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Another Auster 5 TW438 / G-ANIE at Poplar Hall Airstrip, Elmsett, nr Ipswich
G-ANIE by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Auster 5 TW511 / G-APAF at AAC Netheravon
G-APAF-Netheravon-011117 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

Auster AOP6 VF526 / G-ARXU - another one at AAC Netheravon
G-ARXU by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

and a very recent restoration to the civilian register in this country - Auster Plus D LB389 / G-AHHY which was previously in South Africa as ZU-MGM
G-AHHY-Auster PlusD - Enstone-120721 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr

[Mustang531]

Thanks Jon, now you're spoiling us, more great shots.

[Son_of_Biggin]

Superb selection. Austers are timeless.

[johnwickenden]

and another one

AOP9 G-BJXR / XR267 seen at Tatenhill

G-BJXR-AOP9-Tatenhill-231121 by Jon Wickenden, on Flickr