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The Auster AOP.3 was the first in a series of air observation posts designed by Auster Aircraft Ltd. It saw wartime service from 1943 and evolved into the AOP.6, of which 296 examples were built for the RAF and the Belgian Air Force, together with 36 of a
slightly modified version for the RCAF. The AOP.7 was a two-seat dual-control trainer version, while the AOP.8 was intended to combine the features of both Mk.6 and Mk.7, but was not furthered. Last in the series was the AOP.9, a tough and versatile monoplane
which first flew on 19 March 1954 and incorporated many lessons learned during the Korean War, in which the AOP.6 was used extensively by the British Army for artillery spotting and other duties. The first AOP.9s were issued to RAF units at the beginning of 1954, and a second order followed in 1959. Austers of various marks were also used by Iraq, Jordan, Rhodesia and South Africa.
Robert Jackson "The Encyclopedia of Aircraft", 2004
| MODEL | AOP.9 |
| ENGINE | 1 x 180hp Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier 203 4-cylinder in-line engine |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 966 kg | 2130 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 11.10 m | 36 ft 5 in |
| Length | 7.21 m | 24 ft 8 in |
| Height | 2.56 m | 8 ft 5 in |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 204 km/h | 127 mph |
| Ceiling | 5640 m | 18500 ft |
| Range | 395 km | 245 miles |
| Ron Rankin, ronrankin(@)hotmail.com, 02.01.2010 I now own an AOP-9.
This aircraft had spent the last 20 years in Sarasota, Florida. It is now in Yakima, Washington , USA, undergoing restoration.
Any information and parts would be appreciated! | | Bernard Rumbold, bernardrumbold(@)btinternet.com, 28.03.2009 I remember flying in Auster 6s and 9s at the Army Air Corps base at Middle Wallop as an ATC cadet in the late 50s. It was fun to fly in as it had good forward and side visibility and was readily responsive to controls. | | Ray Wheat, caljoocla(@)yahoo.co.uk, 01.02.2009 there were 8 Austers in action in the Korean war . They flew hundreds of hours both in aop and light liason work.
I was an airframe mech servicing these aircraft in very difficult conditions for 18 months. Fort George Airstrip | | Ray Wheat, caljoocla(@)yahoo.co.uk, 01.02.2009 there were 8 Austers in action in the Korean war . They flew hundreds of hours both in aop and light liason work.
I was an airframe mech servicing these aircraft in very difficult conditions for 18 months | | Joe Hely, joehely1(@)aol. com, 02.06.2008 I comanded the army airfield at Uijongbu ('I' Corps) in 1951. We had the one Auster assigned to support the Commonwealth Division based here. I forget the name of the only pilot, but he was a very personable 'chap', and a pleasure to know and work with.
This comment is being made only to place into perspective the above comment that the Auster "was used extensively in Korea." Extensive in that the sole specimen was well utilized, but how extensive can a single unit sample be? |
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