Ahhhh Austerrrrrrrrrr (Merged)
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What other aircraft manufacturer has boasted of its product as the "all steel aircraft" seems rather close to lead ballon to me.Anyway lovely old aeroplanes if your nice and current on them.Remember flying self plus 3 individually weighed adult passengers on the last joyriding Auster operation on an AOC(don,t think anyone else has tried an Auster AOC since then!!) fully legal not much fuel about 10 imperial gallons if I remember correctly.A good lifter it was a J1N I believe.Not hard to see why the 172 has become the success story of aviation though.
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stampe prospective purchasers must have been bemused to find "the all steel aeroplane" was covered in Irish linen 
I wouldn't have thought the early O-300, 145hp, 172's would have had much more fuel in them with 4 punters on board. The bodies concerned would have had significantly more room though
I wouldn't have thought the early O-300, 145hp, 172's would have had much more fuel in them with 4 punters on board. The bodies concerned would have had significantly more room though
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LowNSlow
No I think I will keep the spats for the time being.
I think they add a certain something, and I am not just talking about an extra couple of knots either
They have been descibed to me as "a bit homo
", which to be honest wasn’t something that occurred to me, but hey ho.
Absolutely no offence intended of course.
Will keep a good luck out for you just in case
No I think I will keep the spats for the time being.
I think they add a certain something, and I am not just talking about an extra couple of knots either
They have been descibed to me as "a bit homo
", which to be honest wasn’t something that occurred to me, but hey ho.Absolutely no offence intended of course.
Will keep a good luck out for you just in case
Thread Starter
Vick VG I think the spats look great and I need to recover the knots lost by my soon-to-be-fitted belly tank I'd appreciate any info you come up with.
I have a pair of spats which I can press into service once I've finished repairing them. It's the bracketry and the special wheel nuts I'm really after although I wouldn't turn my nose up at a nice pair of undamaged spats.
So far I've only managed to source the most inboard of the mounting plates so I still need it's partner for the outboard inner side of the spat (Two plates sandwich the fibreglass spat sidewall) plus the pair that sandwich the outer side of the spat, plus the wheel nut and nut to spat bracket. Whew that was a marathon
I'd appreciate any info you come up with.I have a pair of spats which I can press into service once I've finished repairing them. It's the bracketry and the special wheel nuts I'm really after although I wouldn't turn my nose up at a nice pair of undamaged spats.
So far I've only managed to source the most inboard of the mounting plates so I still need it's partner for the outboard inner side of the spat (Two plates sandwich the fibreglass spat sidewall) plus the pair that sandwich the outer side of the spat, plus the wheel nut and nut to spat bracket. Whew that was a marathon
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I thought I would just bump this back up to the top as we have been overtaken by that mmmmiles lot again 
I would like to thank LnS for the insurance tip, Flemmings were very efficient, a choice of quotes within 24 hours and not really that expensive all things considered.
Just got to do 15 landings dual before going solo, which I think, is very reasonable.
First lesson on Friday with a bit of luck
I would like to thank LnS for the insurance tip, Flemmings were very efficient, a choice of quotes within 24 hours and not really that expensive all things considered.
Just got to do 15 landings dual before going solo, which I think, is very reasonable.
First lesson on Friday with a bit of luck
Thread Starter
Vicky VG niet problemo as they say in the bars around here 
Where are you doing the 15 landings? Hope you've picked a small grass field where you can whizz around the circuit and then concentrate on the approach and imminent bounce
Don't forget that all your greaser landings will only be witnessed by the occasional rabbit and a flock of sparrows.
The bouncers will be witnessed by half the county
For the runway excursions all your relatives will turn up as well
Good Luck, despite their reputation, Austers aren't that bad, honest........
Where are you doing the 15 landings? Hope you've picked a small grass field where you can whizz around the circuit and then concentrate on the approach and imminent bounce
Don't forget that all your greaser landings will only be witnessed by the occasional rabbit and a flock of sparrows.
The bouncers will be witnessed by half the county
For the runway excursions all your relatives will turn up as well
Good Luck, despite their reputation, Austers aren't that bad, honest........
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LnS
Thank you for your kind words of inspiration
Hopefully will be doing training at EGNA, four grass runways, so should be one close enough into wind.
At least the members there have a sense of humour.
Some years ago a friend of mine was learning to fly there and as he taxied in after a particularly 'eventful' arrival, two club members rushed from the clubhouse toward his aircraft carrying a stretcher!
Thank you for your kind words of inspiration
Hopefully will be doing training at EGNA, four grass runways, so should be one close enough into wind.
At least the members there have a sense of humour.
Some years ago a friend of mine was learning to fly there and as he taxied in after a particularly 'eventful' arrival, two club members rushed from the clubhouse toward his aircraft carrying a stretcher!
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Vick VG I always try my best to be encouraging
After the into wind landings 4 runways will also allow you to be able to control the amount of crosswind for the all important exploration of out-of-wind landings so that you don't end up in an out-of-ideas-and-control- travel situation
Does your Auster have the traditional free castoring supermarket trolley tailwheel that the traditionalists favour or has someone got sensible and fitted a steerable version?
After the into wind landings 4 runways will also allow you to be able to control the amount of crosswind for the all important exploration of out-of-wind landings so that you don't end up in an out-of-ideas-and-control- travel situation
Does your Auster have the traditional free castoring supermarket trolley tailwheel that the traditionalists favour or has someone got sensible and fitted a steerable version?
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Vick VG
As for hydraulic brakes. There is no approved mod as such for Austers (ie the company didn't write one). But as with all things Auster, nothing is black and white.
The austers are a strange point. They fly on CofA's but have no manufacturer support, since H&S dropped support thirty years ago. Therefore there are no new factory certified parts being produced. They were a popular military aircraft, so there is a bulk of ex-army (and others) parts about, but without any Caa or Jaa paperwork with them. They were also licence produced in Portugal by OMGA and some parts from here are on the Uk scene.
But the Caa have not had a problem with this for 30 years ?
As for brakes etc. Yes there are three J series flying with conversions, individually approved by the Caa. But I believe all these still use the heel pedals.
The main problem with austers in this area is the wheel size. It's unique, hence the tyres and tube are also and prices reflect such.
Also the drum brake back plates are also unique and you can only get them from a few people who have bought old new stock many years ago. As with anything demand dictate price. As there is a shortage of r/h ones they fetch £ 100-00 each, but l/h ones go for £ 50-00.
I'm sure that while they remain on the CofA this will only mean that prices will go up and up as parts become in hsort supply. Especially brake back plates, u/c legs and lift stuts. As these are all exposed and will corrode or crack over use.
Thank god I'm on a pfa ticket, so I can produce my own mods and prts as required (within sensible use). Infact I'm looking at something rather different at the moment that will really shoock the Auster purists. But I'll wait to the new years when I've costed it up before letting on !!
Did I forget to say. Well done youv'e bought a wonderfull classic aircraft and you should have years of fun..
As for hydraulic brakes. There is no approved mod as such for Austers (ie the company didn't write one). But as with all things Auster, nothing is black and white.
The austers are a strange point. They fly on CofA's but have no manufacturer support, since H&S dropped support thirty years ago. Therefore there are no new factory certified parts being produced. They were a popular military aircraft, so there is a bulk of ex-army (and others) parts about, but without any Caa or Jaa paperwork with them. They were also licence produced in Portugal by OMGA and some parts from here are on the Uk scene.
But the Caa have not had a problem with this for 30 years ?
As for brakes etc. Yes there are three J series flying with conversions, individually approved by the Caa. But I believe all these still use the heel pedals.
The main problem with austers in this area is the wheel size. It's unique, hence the tyres and tube are also and prices reflect such.
Also the drum brake back plates are also unique and you can only get them from a few people who have bought old new stock many years ago. As with anything demand dictate price. As there is a shortage of r/h ones they fetch £ 100-00 each, but l/h ones go for £ 50-00.
I'm sure that while they remain on the CofA this will only mean that prices will go up and up as parts become in hsort supply. Especially brake back plates, u/c legs and lift stuts. As these are all exposed and will corrode or crack over use.
Thank god I'm on a pfa ticket, so I can produce my own mods and prts as required (within sensible use). Infact I'm looking at something rather different at the moment that will really shoock the Auster purists. But I'll wait to the new years when I've costed it up before letting on !!
Did I forget to say. Well done youv'e bought a wonderfull classic aircraft and you should have years of fun..
Thread Starter
Oscar Deuce you haven't gone and bought that Paloust (spl) jet engine that was being flogged on eBay last month have you? Or are you going to put a P&W PT-6 in PM? Mmmmm 500shp in an Auster now that would make her lift her skirts and climb
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No No
I'm still using the 0320 I bought c/w standard sen. metal prop.
It was just when I was looking at another task and the time and costs involved I got thinking, especially when I came across some Beagle sales/technical info.....
I'll pm you with details. But keep it under your had, or the purists will hunt me down.
I'm still using the 0320 I bought c/w standard sen. metal prop.
It was just when I was looking at another task and the time and costs involved I got thinking, especially when I came across some Beagle sales/technical info.....
I'll pm you with details. But keep it under your had, or the purists will hunt me down.
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LnS
Afraid tail wheel is still of the Sainsburys variety, which I guess should add to the excitement of it all.
OD
Thanks for the info.
Would be interested to know who carried out the mods on the J series, as I might be able to get a copy of minor mod paperwork.
Did I read somewhere that the Leicestershire museum service hold the Auster drawing archive?
Are there any parts which you can think of which would be worth having remanufactured? I am an LAE, and the aircraft is hopfully going to be based in a aircraft restoration hangar.
With a bit of luck the aircraft is on its delivery flight back to the UK as I write this, which somehow seems appropriate, given the date and time.
BTW, I saw that Palouste on ebay, didnt it say it was really heavy man, and basically useless for anything. Think you need French engine of same name for any kind of aeronautical application.
Afraid tail wheel is still of the Sainsburys variety, which I guess should add to the excitement of it all.
OD
Thanks for the info.
Would be interested to know who carried out the mods on the J series, as I might be able to get a copy of minor mod paperwork.
Did I read somewhere that the Leicestershire museum service hold the Auster drawing archive?
Are there any parts which you can think of which would be worth having remanufactured? I am an LAE, and the aircraft is hopfully going to be based in a aircraft restoration hangar.
With a bit of luck the aircraft is on its delivery flight back to the UK as I write this, which somehow seems appropriate, given the date and time.
BTW, I saw that Palouste on ebay, didnt it say it was really heavy man, and basically useless for anything. Think you need French engine of same name for any kind of aeronautical application.
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Ok first things first. Now you have an auster you should really join the owners club. It doesnt cost much (now £ 18-00 a year, I think). details at www.austerclub.com they produce a quartly news letter, plus details of who can help with tflying training and advise etc.
As for these brakes. As I said they have been done with several different parts. I have heard of one using the goodyear brakes that were found on the husky & Mk.9, but these are the same as chipmunks and now rare, read expensive. The other way it so use cleveland brakes, wheels and cylinders (but still using heel pedals). Surpluss Cessna or new. But then we come back to the wheels again. The Auster axles are to thin and short. So to make them long enough and siutable for standard 1 & 1/2" dia axles. You need to make up axle extensions.
I am fitting such axle extensions, cleveland wheels, calipers and normal size tyres. But I'm trying out toe brakes on the pedals. I have a set of new piper style pedals that fit on the rudder bar and will have some new matco (same as cleveland, but less than halve the price on new) cylinders. Now all this is costing me about £ 900. But I can then use normal sized tyres and will never have to worry about those drum back plates.
As for drawings. Yes they are held by Leicester County records office. You need to contact Peter Stoddard there, who only works as a volunteer now. He will copy drawing and sent them out, you only pay printing costs. But be warned there are many, many drawings and you often have to start with an arangement drawing, then request parts drawing from that. not easy, quick or cheap, if its a major mod like mine. Also while they hold the drawing they don't own them or the commercial rights etc. This belongs to Stephen Sywell of Light Aero Spares in Devon.
As for spares / advise. It's usually a case of finding the people who bought stocks of items when they came up, many years ago.
Main ones I know of: Carl Tyler @ Windmill Aviation, Spanhoe Lodge. He did at least one of said brake conversions, plus Lycoming installations and has many parts. Cliff Baker t/a Auster spares in Newark area. He bought a lot of stock when Beagle went bust and owns a dozen or so Austers of various models. But he doesn't like time wasters and i found him very difficult to talk to, hence he lost out on my business. Chirs Harrison in Banbury, he has mainly Gipsy engine parts and some Terrier parts and is a great help on the engine front. Light Aero Spares do sell some new parts, such as cables, bungees, brake shoe linings and windshileds, but are very expensive and there are other sources of such. Other than that it's a case of phoning around for leads and advise. For this it's Ron Neal @ RN Aviation in Leicester (ex Auster employee) or Richard Barber in Devon (who owns several).
If you want any contact details PM me. Don't forget to join the club as well, always a good source of contacts.
Regards G-AHAP
As for these brakes. As I said they have been done with several different parts. I have heard of one using the goodyear brakes that were found on the husky & Mk.9, but these are the same as chipmunks and now rare, read expensive. The other way it so use cleveland brakes, wheels and cylinders (but still using heel pedals). Surpluss Cessna or new. But then we come back to the wheels again. The Auster axles are to thin and short. So to make them long enough and siutable for standard 1 & 1/2" dia axles. You need to make up axle extensions.
I am fitting such axle extensions, cleveland wheels, calipers and normal size tyres. But I'm trying out toe brakes on the pedals. I have a set of new piper style pedals that fit on the rudder bar and will have some new matco (same as cleveland, but less than halve the price on new) cylinders. Now all this is costing me about £ 900. But I can then use normal sized tyres and will never have to worry about those drum back plates.
As for drawings. Yes they are held by Leicester County records office. You need to contact Peter Stoddard there, who only works as a volunteer now. He will copy drawing and sent them out, you only pay printing costs. But be warned there are many, many drawings and you often have to start with an arangement drawing, then request parts drawing from that. not easy, quick or cheap, if its a major mod like mine. Also while they hold the drawing they don't own them or the commercial rights etc. This belongs to Stephen Sywell of Light Aero Spares in Devon.
As for spares / advise. It's usually a case of finding the people who bought stocks of items when they came up, many years ago.
Main ones I know of: Carl Tyler @ Windmill Aviation, Spanhoe Lodge. He did at least one of said brake conversions, plus Lycoming installations and has many parts. Cliff Baker t/a Auster spares in Newark area. He bought a lot of stock when Beagle went bust and owns a dozen or so Austers of various models. But he doesn't like time wasters and i found him very difficult to talk to, hence he lost out on my business. Chirs Harrison in Banbury, he has mainly Gipsy engine parts and some Terrier parts and is a great help on the engine front. Light Aero Spares do sell some new parts, such as cables, bungees, brake shoe linings and windshileds, but are very expensive and there are other sources of such. Other than that it's a case of phoning around for leads and advise. For this it's Ron Neal @ RN Aviation in Leicester (ex Auster employee) or Richard Barber in Devon (who owns several).
If you want any contact details PM me. Don't forget to join the club as well, always a good source of contacts.
Regards G-AHAP
Thread Starter
I'll second all Oscar Deuce said although I have used Cliff Baker and found him to be prompt if a tad expensive....
I got the control horn to connect the rudder to the tailwheel from Cliff Baker, I don't know if he has any more. Fortunately my Auster already had a Scott tailwheel fitted so it was just a matter of connecting it up. These are now ridiculously expensive......
I assume that the Auster is on it's way back from France? Where are you going to base her?
I got the control horn to connect the rudder to the tailwheel from Cliff Baker, I don't know if he has any more. Fortunately my Auster already had a Scott tailwheel fitted so it was just a matter of connecting it up. These are now ridiculously expensive......
I assume that the Auster is on it's way back from France? Where are you going to base her?
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Thanks very much for the input chaps its been very helpful.
I have been a bit busy in the past couple of days trying to organise getting her up from Oxfordshire to a her new base (Tollerton). This has proved to be somewhat of a tricky operation up to now.
To be able to get a lift, an Auster pilot and some decent weather all at the same time as so far elluded me.
The aircraft got back from France Wednesday night. Chris Harrison very kindly flew it back for me, as he was postitiong one of his Austers to France. He did it all in one day, I think it was around nine and half hours total time. Fair play to him (and I have not met him yet!). He has been very encouraging about the aircraft and Austers in general, the only problem he said with the aircaraft was that '' the brakes aren't very good''
So I suppose starting from the point that they are not great anyway they made need some attention sooner rather than later
I joined the club a few years ago, I really enjoy the magazine
I have been a bit busy in the past couple of days trying to organise getting her up from Oxfordshire to a her new base (Tollerton). This has proved to be somewhat of a tricky operation up to now.
To be able to get a lift, an Auster pilot and some decent weather all at the same time as so far elluded me.
The aircraft got back from France Wednesday night. Chris Harrison very kindly flew it back for me, as he was postitiong one of his Austers to France. He did it all in one day, I think it was around nine and half hours total time. Fair play to him
(and I have not met him yet!). He has been very encouraging about the aircraft and Austers in general, the only problem he said with the aircaraft was that '' the brakes aren't very good'' So I suppose starting from the point that they are not great anyway they made need some attention sooner rather than later
I joined the club a few years ago, I really enjoy the magazine
Thread Starter
Vick VG the brake shoes are available from Light Aero at abou 3 quid apiece. Easily rivetted. Once adjusted properly they'll be fine
Chris is a very friendly and helpful chap with a great affection for the Auster. He's also the only person I know who has commuted to work in his Auster on a daily basis.
Chris is a very friendly and helpful chap with a great affection for the Auster. He's also the only person I know who has commuted to work in his Auster on a daily basis.
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As said before Chris knows as much about the engines as I do about the bottom of red wine bottles. Do you know if that was his lovely Mk6 he sold to the frogs ?
As Low said, the brake shoe linings are only £ 3-00 each and the rivets about £ 0-12. The only cheap thing you will get from light aero or for an auster..?
Better sort out that tail wheel though. Will make of world of difference is a cross wind.
As Low said, the brake shoe linings are only £ 3-00 each and the rivets about £ 0-12. The only cheap thing you will get from light aero or for an auster..?
Better sort out that tail wheel though. Will make of world of difference is a cross wind.
Thread Starter
Chris has sold his Mk6, to whom I don't know. Shame, it was a lovely aeroplane. I think he's bought something which is a tad faster to allow him to get to la Belle France a bit quicker.
The free castoring tailwheel is only for people who habitually wear hair shirts and break the ice on the Serpentine to go swimming
It wasn't the cross winds I had a problem with it was the taxiiing. Anybody who saw the zigzagging Auster with bodies (thanks again chaps) hanging off the wingtips at the PFA Rally in 2002 will doubtless agree. In my defence I did have one brake that suddenly went duff on me.
The free castoring tailwheel is only for people who habitually wear hair shirts and break the ice on the Serpentine to go swimming
It wasn't the cross winds I had a problem with it was the taxiiing. Anybody who saw the zigzagging Auster with bodies (thanks again chaps) hanging off the wingtips at the PFA Rally in 2002 will doubtless agree. In my defence I did have one brake that suddenly went duff on me.
Thread Starter
That's it, speed wasn't the issue, it was having 4 "proper" seats that was important.
Cirrus Major power, mmmm always the cheap option that.
Cirrus Major power, mmmm always the cheap option that.