Auster Autocar

Design and production

The company recognised a need for a four-seat touring aircraft to complement the three-seat Auster J/1 Autocrat. The J/5 Autocar looked similar to the Autocrat, but was a new model featuring wing-root fuel tanks and an enlarged cabin.

The designation of J/5 for the Autocar followed on from its progenitor, the wartime Model J, which was designated the Auster AOP.V by the Royal Air Force. Postwar models derived from the Model J commenced with the J/1 Autocrat - note the use of J/1, not J-1.

The prototype Autocar G-AJYK, a model J/5B, first flew in August 1949 and was exhibited at the Farnborough Air Show in September. A demand for a more powerful version for the tropics produced in 1950 the J/5E powered by a 155 hp (116 kW) Blackburn Cirrus Major engine. This was further developed as the J/5G which was first flown in 1951.

Operations

Saunders-Roe of Cowes, Isle of Wight, acquired a J/5G Autocar and fitted it with an experimental hydro-ski undercarriage and emergency under-wing floats. With this equipment, the aircraft could remain almost stationary on the water.

The majority of the production Autocars were exported to sixteen countries and later resold in five further territories. The Autocar has been primarily operated by private pilot owners and by aero clubs but some were used by small charter firms in the UK and elsewhere as taxi and photographic aircraft. Pest Control Ltd took delivery of five J/5G Autocars in 1952 for crop spraying operations in Sudan.

Variants

Auster J/5B Autocar

production version.

Auster J/5E Autocar

prototype export version with a Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engine.

Auster J/5G Autocar

export version with a Blackburn Cirrus Major 3 engine.

Auster J/5GL

one Auster J-5G fitted with a Lycoming piston engine.

Auster J/5G Super Autocar

One J/5G converted in Australia by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services with a 225hp (168kW) Continental O-470 engine.

Auster J/5H Autocar

with Blackburn Cirrus Major 2 engine, one rebuilt from J/5B

Auster J/5P Autocar

version with a de Havilland Gipsy Major 1 engine.

Auster J/5V Autocar

development aircraft with 160 hp (199 kW) Lycoming O-320 engine.

Kingsford Smith Bushmaster

An Auster J/5G conversion in Australia by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services, fitted with a 180hp (134kW) Lycoming O-360 engine, constant speed propeller and other improvements.

Civil operators

United Kingdom

Airviews Ltd

Anglian Air Charter

Bees Flight

Bristol Aero Engines

Dunlop Rubber

Ferranti

Gloster Aircraft

Hunting Aerosurveys Ltd

Pest Control Ltd

Saunders-Roe

Southend Flying School

Military operators

 Australia

Royal Australian Navy

723 Squadron RAN

724 Squadron RAN

725 Squadron RAN

 Kuwait

Kuwait Air Force

Specifications (J/5B)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Capacity: 3 passengers

Length: 23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)

Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)

Height: 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)

Wing area: 185 sq ft (17.2 m²)

Empty weight: 1,413 lb (641 kg)

Gross weight: 2,450 lb (1,111 kg)

Fuel capacity: 145 imp gal (174 US gal; 660 L)

Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major I air-cooled, four-cylinder inline engine, 130 hp (97 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 116 mph (187 km/h; 101 kn)

Cruise speed: 100 mph (161 km/h; 87 kn)

Stall speed: 34 mph (55 km/h; 30 kn) Flaps down

Range: 500 mi (434 nmi; 805 km)

Service ceiling: 11,000 ft (3,400 m)

Rate of climb: 525 ft/min (2.67 m/s)

Take-off to 50 ft (15 m): 537 yd (1,611 ft; 491 m)

Landing run: 163 yd (489 ft; 149 m)