Announcement

**Robert Lees** · 09-29-2005, 05:49

Re: Av-Web Photo

Stole my idea, though!

http://www.taylorcraft.org.uk/N%20Norway3.jpg

**Acroeric** · 09-29-2005, 06:04

Re: Av-Web Photo

Mr. Ambassador Rob,
I have exposed my neighbor to the Tcraft and he is interested in restoring one. He has been restoring British autos for years and when I told him of the Auster- he really got interested. How hard are they to come by over there? Are they abundant in project form? Just wondering.
Eric

**Robert Lees** · 09-29-2005, 10:58

Re: Av-Web Photo

Loads of them (mostly here in Leicester...4 miles from where they were all built). And they are (relatively) cheap...about £15K will buy an airworthy-but-needs-TLC one.

Engine overhaul is expensive...expect about £17K for a Major.

But why would he want an Auster, when he could have a Taylorcraft? A bit like buying a Ford Pinto when he could have a Bentley?

**Acroeric** · 09-29-2005, 12:14

Re: Av-Web Photo

Who knows? He heard that it was British. . . .so is he so I guess that was enough.

**Robert Lees** · 09-29-2005, 12:55

Re: Av-Web Photo

As long as he understand that it's made with girders. Comment, VictorBravo, you've flown one.

**flyguy** · 09-29-2005, 13:48

Re: Av-Web Photo

Must be really hard to keep the aircraft flying straight with the photographer hanging out on the wing strut like that.
Darryl

**Robert Lees** · 09-29-2005, 13:56

Re: Av-Web Photo

Not on the strut, Darryl...if you sit atop the wing, knees over the leading edge, and lean over for the photo, it's a piece of cake!

**VictorBravo** · 09-29-2005, 15:35

Re: Av-Web Photo

The Auster is a fine aircraft with several advantages over a stock T-craft. They usually have a large greenhouse that minimizes the Taylorcraft's inherent poor visibility. They almost all have stick controls instead of the steering wheel, which is more fun to fly. Most of them have flaps which are desperately needed and allow much better approach control. Many of them actually have some horsepower, to boot.

The downsides are that they are indeed heavy. This downside might start to be pretty attractive in mountain turbulence. The extra weight of structure means they really do need more power. 150 horse on an Auster is about like 85 or 100 horse on a Taylorcraft.

Overhauls of the Gipsy engines are available in the USA at one of several places. Here on the west coast we have Al Ball and Ed Clarke who are both experts. There are other places around the country.

If you cuy a Lycoming powered Auster in England (the later civilian Mark 5 derivatives) then you can bolt an O-360 on the same mount here and have some real performance. There are a few O-360 powered Austers in England. If you buy an inline engine powered Auster, be sure to get one with the 145 Gipsy instead of the 100 HP Cirrus Minor. The Cirrus is simply not enough power for safe normal operations in America IMHO.

Contact Hank Bullock in Oregon, who is the owner of an absolutely gorgeous 145 horsepower Auster, or John Morris in (Virginia or Massachussetts I think) who also has a gorgeous Auster.