Auster AOP9 on grass

iBase ID

18546

Title

Description

Auster AOP9 on grass
Grounded Auster plane: registration 5413

Auster aircraft photo collections
Aeroplane and Flight Magazine
Bates Collection, Leicestershire Record Office

Maker

Blank/Empty

LCC ID. No.

Auster51

Image Use

Personal use only unless otherwise agreed

Exhibitions with this image

The Auster AOP.9 was a British military air observation aircraft ("Air Observation Post") produced by Auster Aircraft Limited to replace the Auster AOP.6.

The Auster AOP.9 was designed as a successor to the Auster AOP.6. Like its predecessor, it was a braced high-wing single engined monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. Although having the same general appearance, the AOP.9 was a new design, with larger wing area and a more powerful engine. The wing and tail were metal-skinned, but the fuselage and ailerons were fabric-covered. The fin and rudder assembly were more angular in the new aircraft with a noticeable dorsal fillet. A combination of the more powerful 180 hp (134 kW) Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier engine, larger wings and large flaps gave it an improved take-off and landing performance compared with the AOP.6. It could operate from ploughed fields and muddy surfaces using low pressure tyres and strengthened undercarriage.

The cabin held three seats, pilot and passenger side-by-side and the observer behind, facing either forwards or rearwards. The aircraft was also designed to be convertible into a two-seat light transport with an interchangeable rear floor. In this configuration the observer sat alongside the pilot.

The prototype WZ662 first flew 19 March 1954. Auster Aircraft allotted its model designation B5 to the AOP.9 design.

You can see an example of the AOP9 aircraft at Snibston Discovery Museum: http://www.snibston.com/

Subjects

Transport > Other Transport

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Uploaded on

2013-11-21 15:09:01