Originally Posted by
Dan Winterland
The Beagle Husky is quite a good aeroplane - it's a effectively a Lycoming powered Auster. The 180HP gives it a good take off performance, but then it was power against drag and not worth thinking about cruising above 90knts. And the split flaps make it a real dragmaster and good for short strip landings.
I've also flown the Aviat Husky (which is a bit like a Cub on steroids) and the two are very similar. The yank machine has a 180hp Lycoming as well, but with a CS prop. It's got truly enormous flaps and even better short field performance than the Beagle Husky. But the British aircraft is nicer to handle.
Both would make an excellent glider tugs!
It was based loosely on the J/1 airframe and during the marketing of it, suggestions of a crop spraying variant were put forward. It was my first aircraft trip as an Air Cadet...I seem to vaguely remember that the BBMF sailed past at a lower altitude inbound to a Duxford display.