As the end of the Second World War approached, the designers at Taylorcraft decided to develop a tourer version of the robust and reliable Taylorcraft Auster Model J AOP.V observation aircraft series. An Auster 5, registered G-AGOH, was modified to take a 100 hp (75 kW) Blackburn Cirrus II engine for trials. At the same time a prototype aircraft was built designated the Taylorcraft Auster V Series J/1 Autocrat. The long name was not used as the company changed name to Auster Aircraft Limited and the aircraft became known as the Auster J/1 Autocrat.[1]
The designation J/1 derived from the progenitor Model J, which was the Auster AOP.V.[2][3]
Production and operationEdit
J/1 Autocrat in 1966 powered by a Rover TP gas turbine engineAuster J/1N Alpha in British Eagle colours at Casey Airfield, Berwick, Victoria, Australia in 19881946 Auster J/1N Alpha aircraft in England
The first production aircraft, registered G-AGTO, was delivered in December 1945. One of the more spectacular feats of the type was the first visit of a civilian aircraft to an aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious in the English Channel in October 1946.[citation needed] The last Rearsby built J/1s were delivered in 1952.
The Autocrat became one of the most successful post-war British light aircraft with more than 400 built. A small number of variants were built and the aircraft became the basis for a family of light aircraft. The Autocrat was used by individual pilots, aero clubs and by small charter firms for passenger flights, banner towing and photography.
Many J/1s were converted to J/1N Alpha standard with a higher fin and fitted with a 130 h.p. Gipsy Major engine, as used in the J/1B Aiglet. 45 new build J/1N Alphas were completed in 1956–57, mainly for export to Australia.
A single Autocrat G-AGVI was converted by V.H. Bellamy in 1965 to be powered by a Rover TP gas turbine engine. It reverted to normal power in 1968.
Starting in 1946, newly built examples of the Autocrat and Alpha were exported direct from the production line at Rearsby to many countries worldwide including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Ceylon, Denmark, Egypt, France, Iraq, Jordan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Uruguay.[4] Other UK-registered aircraft were later sold overseas on the secondhand market.
Numbers of Autocrats and Alphas continue to fly into the 2010s with private owners in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.
An Auster J/1 conversion in Australia by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services, fitted with a 150hp (112kW) Avco Lycoming O-320 engine[8] and other improvement (including better seating and sound-proofing).
Hitchman, Ambrose (1989). The History of the Auster Aeroplane. International Auster Pilot Club.
Jackson, A. J. (1973). British Civil Aviation since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-10006-9.
Further readingEdit
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Auster J/1 Autocrat.
. British Aircraft Directory. 3 December 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
August 28, 2023
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The Auster J 1 Autocrat was a 1940s British single engined three seat high wing touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby Leicestershire J 1 AutocratRole Touring aircraftManufacturer Auster Aircraft LimitedFirst flight 1945Introduction 1945Produced 1945 1952Number built 420Developed from Taylorcraft Auster 5Variants Auster J 1B AigletAuster WorkmasterAuster Avis Contents 1 History 2 Production and operation 3 Variants 4 Operators 4 1 Civil operators 5 Specifications Auster J 1 Autocrat 6 See also 7 In popular culture 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksHistory EditAs the end of the Second World War approached the designers at Taylorcraft decided to develop a tourer version of the robust and reliable Taylorcraft Auster Model J AOP V observation aircraft series An Auster 5 registered G AGOH was modified to take a 100 hp 75 kW Blackburn Cirrus II engine for trials At the same time a prototype aircraft was built designated the Taylorcraft Auster V Series J 1 Autocrat The long name was not used as the company changed name to Auster Aircraft Limited and the aircraft became known as the Auster J 1 Autocrat 1 The designation J 1 derived from the progenitor Model J which was the Auster AOP V 2 3 Production and operation Edit J 1 Autocrat in 1966 powered by a Rover TP gas turbine engine Auster J 1N Alpha in British Eagle colours at Casey Airfield Berwick Victoria Australia in 1988 1946 Auster J 1N Alpha aircraft in EnglandThe first production aircraft registered G AGTO was delivered in December 1945 One of the more spectacular feats of the type was the first visit of a civilian aircraft to an aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in the English Channel in October 1946 citation needed The last Rearsby built J 1s were delivered in 1952 The Autocrat became one of the most successful post war British light aircraft with more than 400 built A small number of variants were built and the aircraft became the basis for a family of light aircraft The Autocrat was used by individual pilots aero clubs and by small charter firms for passenger flights banner towing and photography Many J 1s were converted to J 1N Alpha standard with a higher fin and fitted with a 130 h p Gipsy Major engine as used in the J 1B Aiglet 45 new build J 1N Alphas were completed in 1956 57 mainly for export to Australia A single Autocrat G AGVI was converted by V H Bellamy in 1965 to be powered by a Rover TP gas turbine engine It reverted to normal power in 1968 Starting in 1946 newly built examples of the Autocrat and Alpha were exported direct from the production line at Rearsby to many countries worldwide including Argentina Australia Belgium Brazil Ceylon Denmark Egypt France Iraq Jordan Netherlands New Zealand Norway Pakistan South Africa Southern Rhodesia Sweden Switzerland Trinidad and Tobago Uganda and Uruguay 4 Other UK registered aircraft were later sold overseas on the secondhand market Numbers of Autocrats and Alphas continue to fly into the 2010s with private owners in the United Kingdom Australia New Zealand and elsewhere Variants EditAuster J 1 Autocrat production version with Blackburn Cirrus Major engine 5 Several later fitted with engines up to the 150 h p Lycoming O 320 A1A Auster J 1A Autocrat additional fourth seat for joyriding 6 Auster J 1N Alpha powered by a de Havilland Gipsy Major I engine and with enlarged tail surfaces Four seater 7 Auster J 1S Autocrat powered by a 145 h p de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 Mk 2 2 engine 7 Kingsford Smith Kingsmith An Auster J 1 conversion in Australia by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services fitted with a 150hp 112kW Avco Lycoming O 320 engine 8 and other improvement including better seating and sound proofing Operators EditCivil operators Edit IranImperial Iranian Aero Club IsraelSherut Avir Israeli Air Force KuwaitKuwait Air Force JordanRoyal Jordanian Air Force RhodesiaRhodesian Air Force one aircraft only Southern RhodesiaSouthern Rhodesian Air Force one aircraft onlyRoyal Pakistan AirforceSpecifications Auster J 1 Autocrat EditData from British Civil Aviation since 1919 Volume 1 9 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 2 passengers Length 23 ft 5 in 7 14 m Wingspan 36 ft 0 in 10 97 m Height 6 ft 6 in 1 98 m tail down propeller horizontal Wing area 185 sq ft 17 2 m2 Empty weight 1 052 lb 477 kg Gross weight 1 850 lb 839 kg Fuel capacity Fuel 15 imp gal 18 US gal 68 L 10 Powerplant 1 Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2 4 cyl air cooled inverted in line piston engine 100 hp 75 kW Propellers 2 bladed Fairey Reed metal or Weybridge wooden fixed pitch propeller 6 ft 1 8 m diameter 10 Performance Maximum speed 120 mph 190 km h 100 kn Cruise speed 100 mph 160 km h 87 kn Stall speed 30 mph 48 km h 26 kn 2 crew and flaps down 10 Range 320 mi 510 km 280 nmi Service ceiling 14 000 ft 4 300 m Rate of climb 568 ft min 2 89 m s Take off run 250 yd 230 m in 5 mph 4 3 kn 8 0 km h wind 10 Landing run 99 yd 91 m in 5 mph 4 3 kn 8 0 km h wind 10 See also Edit Aviation portalRelated development Auster AvisIn popular culture EditAn Auster Autocrat registration G AIGD was featured in Episode 42 of the BBC series Father Brown which first aired in January 2016 An Auster J 1N featured in Foyle s War Series 8 Episode 3 Elise airdate January 2015 References Edit Jackson 1973 p 63 Hitchman 1989 p 53 Ellison 1966 p 72 Jackson 1973 pp 67 68 Jackson 1973 pp 63 64 Jackson 1973 p 64 a b Jackson 1973 p 65 Jackson 1973 p 67 Jackson 1973 pp 63 67 a b c d e Bridgman 1947 p 14c Bridgman Leonard ed 1947 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1947 London Sampson Low Marston amp Co Ellison N H 1966 Auster Aircraft Aircraft Production List Air Britain Historians Ltd Hitchman Ambrose 1989 The History of the Auster Aeroplane International Auster Pilot Club Jackson A J 1973 British Civil Aviation since 1919 Volume 1 London Putnam ISBN 0 370 10006 9 Further reading EditThe Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Auster J 1 Autocrat Auster Autocrat British Aircraft Directory 3 December 2005 Archived from the original on 27 September 2007 Retrieved 29 March 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Auster Autocrat amp oldid 1120920074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
