Low N Slow

Sorry to catch this item so late but in connection with you original thread I recall a story of an Auster out of Coventry loosing a prop back in 60s, dead sticked safely into a field, retrieved, with the prop turning up a week later at Bagington, delivered by man on bicycle.:confused:

Love to think this story was true

Only ever had chance to fly an Auster once, out of Edgehill, ALXZ if I recall correctly. A very cherished flying moment between too many spamcan hours.

Can't believe they sent a bloke on a push bike, that's too far fetched. If you'd have said roller skates Then I'd believed it:ok:

WINDY,LowNSlow, I can relate to your problems,ie,the tank and the missrouted cable. My ausie Auster was due for an annual in July last year.The inspector took one look at it and shook his head with the remark "thats going to take a long time and a lot of money". Nearly ten months later,a retired engineer and myself finished the work.About the only things that were not replaced/removed was the fabric and motor. We found several Ad's that had been signed off and not ever done, domestic bolts holding the tail wheel on,and most frightining, the rear wing attachment pin had been replaced by a near enough "bolt", so alowing the left wing to move, somewhat. Fiberglass coated tank to stop leaks,and the list goes on.Back in the air now, and all ok and signed off, flap lever is still a slight problem, ocassional sliping. Well meaning people have said throw out the Cirrus and replace with a Gipsy.Na-- why double the fuel consumption, up the running costs, and only gain a few knots, plus the cost of buying an engine .
:ok:

1946,
I guess that answers the question asked by one of our group members the other day whether the build quality was better on the Australian built Austers than the UK ones.
Still it all builds Character ;)
Smooth skies and happy landings.

Windy, 1946 I never realised that there was an issue between UK/Oz built Austers, have you seen that lovely (looking) Auster VI on the Auster Club website. It's in Canada which is a bit of a logistical problem but it looks lovely. :ok: It's also got the spats fitted..........

Blind Lemon I've heard a similar story so it MUST be true :suspect: If you're ever in the Herts / Bedford area you're welcome to a trip in my Auster. The offer stands for any Ppruners who would like to sample the delights of Austering :)

LowN SLow,
The question was posed rather toungue in cheek at the time. I think the inference was that we might have been better off buying an Aus built Auster. things were at a low ebb at the time.:O

Windy, LowNSlow. I did not know there was any OZ "built" Austers. I assumed that they were all assembled in UK, test flown and boxed up and sent out to the colonies. I have read all I can get my hands on as regards Austers and nowhere is a reference to Oz built aircraft. Love to be corrected. I know my old girl (aircraft) was built in UK flown there till 52' and exported as deck cargo, as I am lucky enough to have the orignal "journey book". She was based in the Southend area, and did regular trips to the continent, air taxi work, I think. G-AIGL was the reg.
I know G.M.H. built DH Gipsy's under licence.:O

I think the only other place that build / assembled Austers was Portugal. D4/5/6 's I think, all with Lycoming engines.
Anyone know how many are still there / active?

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gur...AP-ARRIVAL.jpg

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gur.../AHAP-JULY.jpg


These pictures posted on behalf of Oscar Duece.

Regards
Clint.

Thamks for the help with the pic Mr Grubby.

The first one is when AP arrived in early March, complete with Rover 3.5ltr. V8 under that large snoot.
The second is her today, down to the bare frame. Ready for some welding, then blast cleaning, painting and fitting out with Lycoming 0320 power.
I did flirt with the idea of Diesel power, but decided they are years away from proving to be reliable designs and I didn't want the paperwork nightmare of being the first to do it.

So are any of you attending this years PFA rally. I should be there on Saturday lunchtime, sadly by car...

A minute's silence please for Holly and Margaret Birkett, who died when their Auster 5, G-APKL, crash-landed on the beach at Berck-sur-Mer on 8 July 1963.

Holly was our vet in Fleet, Hants, we used to bring all our bats, rats, cats and budgies to him to be mended, he was a kindly person, whose first wife bred Pyrenneans and was a judge at Crufts.

Holly was a founder member of the Austin 7 club, and there is still a race run each year in his honour. He and his first wife were involved in the car meetings at Phoenix Green, and I believe even owned some of the buildings there.

I was invited to travel with Holly on that fateful flight because Margaret had other things to do. Little did I know that my mother, in her wisdom, put the ackers on that, in fact, I only found out a few years ago.

Holly's daughter, Ginny, still has the watch he was wearing and which was presented to him a year earlier by the car club. It is in perfect order, and is a very special type of pilot's watch. It is engraved on the back from the VAC.

I had the pleasure of flying with Holly from Blackbushe on a number of occasions, and from White Waltham in a friend's Proctor, G-AGTC. We flew to Toussus together, and to Rotterdam.

To Ginny, and her sister Eleanora (Tiddler), I send my heartfelt wishes on this sad anniversary.

My condolences to the surviving children on the anniversary of this sad event.

It's sad stories like this that serve to remind us that a sunny afternoon's flying can suddenly turn very nasty with terrible repercussions for the survivors.

I'm still amazed (and grateful) that my partner, who does not like flying, allows our 5 year old daughter to come flying with me.

Oscar Deuce
Somebody seems to have spent quite a bit of time an effort on the engine cowlings. While not being overly attractive, they do look well made. Was the spinner custom made or adapted from something else?. I do think that AP looks better in the second picture :ok:

Did you fly her home or was it a trucking job?

A sad loss and a sobering thought to carry with you. Condolences to all those who were touched by the event.

Oscar Duece nice pictures, going to have to recover our beast before too long so interesting to see the bare bones so to speak.
things are looking up with regards to the repairs most of the aircraft is now in the same county;) so with luck should be servicable again shortly:ok:

I've just taken my silencer off to see what affect this has on the oil leaks due to a pressurised crankcase. Also had the breather off as per some advice given earlier in the thread. Unfortunately, it was completely clear. :{ This means that the root cause is an exhaust valve passing and / or the piston rings not sealing properly. I can feel a large bill heading my way :hmm: :hmm:

Anybody got a set of Cirrus piston rings and / or exhaust valves cluttering up their hangar / garage / bedroom (:ooh: ) that they would like to see go to a good home for a reasonable price :sad:

I'll be getting a compression test done over the next few days, that should narrow the culprit down, hopefully, maybe, possibly....

After saying all that, AM is blatting along quite nicely. Whatever is causing the problem, it isn't something that needs to be sorted out immediately so I've been told by a man who knows. Maybe I'll just put up with wiping the cowlings more often until winter when the Annual is due. :*

Low N Slow,

Thanks for the very kind offer. I may take you up on it
as I do most of my flying from Sywell bumbling around
the home counties so always in the neighbourhood.



:D

blind lemon drop me a line (pm me for my mobile number) and we'll go for a whizz about.

Anyway, silencer is now lying in my locker in the hangar and the results of the compression test are in. Heads will be rolling and exhaust valves will be getting lapped in fairly shortly..... Hopefully there will be no snapped piston rings, valves and / or seats pitted beyond redemption. Who am I trying to kid :{ :{

LowN Slow

The cowlings are well made / formed, with thought gone into airflow to effect cooling. The very large spinner and back plate are custom made, housing a ground adjustable prop with short blades. In the picture you can just see the radiator sticking out the bottom and the small black rectangle behind the cowl, near the venturi holes is a oil cooler sticking out. Someone did comment it looked a 'bit' like a P51 nose, must have been drinking.
AP was transported back on a trailer. Although she was flown in this guise, it was only under a Pfa permit to test and was not a success. The engine weighed almost 300 lbs and only produced about 80-100 hp at 3000 rpm. Being a direct drive the prop wasn't geared to take more.
Anyway I'm just trying to find the time to make several trips around the country to pick up the various parts required. The airframe is almost ready for blast cleaning and painting. Then comes the fun of putting it all together.:ok:

O2 have a look in the Auster Club News for August, there is a chap advertising an exchange wing service for Austers. Don't know how much he charges but it could speed up your re-build dramatically :ok: If you're not a member of the International Auster Club have a look here

LownSlow

Yes I'm a club member, even bought a polo shirt.

Have seen the ad for wing rebuilding. Can imagine how much that could cost ??££??.
The main problem at the moment is time. Currently working 7 days a week, almost 12 hours a day. The joy of a small business.

So will sadly miss the flyin this weekend, in Devon.

Oh well AP will be in the air before it's 60 yo.