The Auster was a light, high-winged monoplane used for light utility
and observation work. It was similar to the American Grasshoppers, but
generally larger and faster. The pilot and co-pilot sat side-by-side,
while the passenger/observer sat behind them. The plane was primarily
used by the RAF, although numbers were also operated by the Canadians
and Australians.
Some 1,600 Austers were built, nearly 800 being the V model, which entered service in 1942. The plane burns 4.4 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.
Subassemblies: Light Plane chassis +3, Recont Plane Wings
with STOL option +2, three fixed wheels +0.
Powertrain: 97-kW aerial HP gas engine with 97-kW old prop and
18-gallon standard tanks [Wings]
Occupancy: 1 CS, 2 PS. Cargo: 2 Body.
Armor
All: 2/2 C
Wheels: 3/5
Equipment
Body: Medium range radio transmitter and receiver, navigation
instruments, duplicate controls.
Statistics
| Size: 22'x36'x12' | Payload: 0.38 tons | Lwt: 0.96 tons |
| Volume: 96 | Maint.: 106 hours | Price: $3,550 |
HT: 11
HP: 50 [body], 70 [each wing], 5 [each wheel]
| aSpeed: 130 |
aAccel: 3 |
aDecel: 52 |
aMR: 13 | aSR: 1 |
Design Notes
Design aSpeed is 139 and stall speed 38 mph; the historical speeds,
as well as actual wing area (167 sf), has been used. Armor uses the
cloth
option. Wing weight, cost and HP were doubled; loaded weight was
increased 2%.
A 9.6 gallon fuel tank could be carried externally.
The III and IV were the same as the V in game terms, differing
primarily in the types (but not output) of engines. 720 built.
A large number were built after the war, many for civilian use.
Those serving as observation craft were gradually replaced by
helicopters in the 1950's.
The American Stinson L-5, while a different aircraft, was the same
on
game terms, but only carried two people (the civil plane it was based
on could carry three)..