Header.JPG

Taylorcraft Model K Auster AOP.VI and Auster Model Q T.7

Including AOP.8, T.10, C4 Antarctic, Auster 6, Auster 6A Tugmaster, Auster 7 & Auster 6B/A61 Terrier

Produced Variants

AOP.VI (later AOP.6) Model J with wing tanks and external flaps replacing the original Model J's split. 145 h.p. de Havilland Gipsy Major 7
  powerplant.
T.7 Trainer variant of AOP.VI.
T.10 AOP.VI converted to T.7 standard.
C4 Antarctic Float/Ski equiped Auster T.7 for Antarctic Expedition support.
Auster 6 Auster AOP.VI converted for civilian use.
Auster 6A Tugmaster Two seat utility / glider tug; Auster AOP.VI converted for civilian use and fitted with enlarged tail surfaces and a towing hook.
  145 h.p. de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 Mk.1-1.
Auster 6B Three seat tourer; Auster AOP.VI converted for civilian use and fitted with enlarged tail surfaces, improved ailerons and a
  car-type interior. 145 h.p. de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 Mk.1-1. Redesignated Beagle-Auster A.61 Terrier 1.
Auster 7 Auster T.7 converted for civilian use.
Beagle-Auster A.61 Terrier 1 See Auster 6B.
Beagle-Auster A.61 Terrier 2 Terrier 1 with improved interior, exhaust silencer and undercarriage spats.
Beagle-Auster A.61 Terrier 3 One aircraft modified by BEA apprentices and fitted with 160 h.p. Lycoming O-320-B2B powerplant.

Projected Variants

 AOP.8Described in Flight for March 3, 1949, as a cross between an AOP.6 and a T.7



Auster AOP.VI & T.7

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Delivered As Military
Serial Range
C/n
Type
Batch Qty
Conv.
Canc'd
Notes
 1 aircraft ordered from Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (later Auster Aircraft Ltd.), Rearsby, to contract Acft/5280. Converted on production line from Mk.V airframe.
 TJ707  1592  AOP.VI  1      
 86 aircraft ordered from Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (later Auster Aircraft Ltd.), Rearsby, to contract Acft/4980. Delivered between May and September 1946.
 TW523 - TW540  1904, 1905, 1906, 1903, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1836,  AOP.VI  18      
   1909, 1919, 1911, 1923, 1926, 1925, 1922, 1934,          
   1946, 1947          
 TW561 - TW598  1931, 1928, 1944, 1933, 1929, 1927, 1932, 1936,    38      
   1945, 1930, 1924, 1948, 1935, 1942, 1949, 1950,          
   2451, 2452, 1939, (See Note 4), 2501,          
   2454 - 2470          
 TW613 - TW642  2471 - 2500    30      
 86 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract Acft/5424. 143 delivered as AOP.VI, one T.7 and 26 cancelled.
 VF482 - VF530  2251-2299  AOP.VI  49      
 VF543 - VF582  2300, 2502-2540    40      
 VF600 - VF648  2541-2557, 2559-2575, 2592-2595, 2839-2849    49      
 VF660 - VF664  2850, 2865-2868    5      
 VF665  2869  T.7  1      T.7 prototype, first flew April 1948
 VF666 - VF670    AOP.VI      5  
 VF713 - VF733          21  
 36 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/35. All aircraft diverted to Canada, delivered between May and June 1948.
 VP628 - VP646  2558, 2576-2591, 2596-2597  AOP.VI      19  Diverted to Canada
 VP653 - VP669  2598-2600, 2851-2864        17  Diverted to Canada
 16651 - 16686  2558, 2576-2591, 2596-2600, 2851-2864    36      R.C.A.F.
 Reservations for 20 aircraft from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby. Not proceeded with.
 VR811 - VR830    AOP.VI      20  
 22 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/1145. All aircraft diverted to Belgium between August and December, 1947.
 VT976 - VT984  2815-2823  AOP.VI      22  Diverted to Belgian AF
 VT985 - VT987  2828-2830          
 VT988 - VT991  2824-2827          
 VT992 - VT997  2831-2836          
 A-1 - A-7  2816, 2823, 2818, 2819, 2815, 2822, 2820,    22      Belgian AF
 A-8 - A-14  2824, 2817, 2825, 2826, 2827, 2829, 2830,          
 A-15 - A-21  2834, 2835, 2832, 2831, 2828, 2833, 2821,          
 A-22  2836          
 40 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/1393. Delivered between June 1948 and May 1949.
 VW985 - VW999  none  AOP.VI  15      
 VX106 - VX130  none    25      
 4 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/2471. Delivered between May and July 1949.
 VX922 - VX925  none  AOP.VI  4      
 7 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/2471. Delivered between December 1949 and February 1950.
 VX926 - VX929  none  T.7  4      
 VX934 - VX936      3      
 1 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/5425. Ddelivered  February 1950.
 VX942  none  AOP.VI  1      
 75 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/3934, 69 delivered between February 1950 and January 1952, 6 cancelled.
 WE534 - WE572  none  T.7  39      
 WE587 - WE616      30      
 WE617 - WE622          6  
 6 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, for the R.C.A.F., delivered between March and July 1951.
 16687 - 16692  none  T.7  6      
 44 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/5920. 36 delivered as AOP.VI between June 1952 and March 1953. 4 AOP.VI and 4 T.7 cancelled.
 WJ354 - WJ378  none  AOP.VI  25      
 WJ398 - WJ408  none    11      
 WJ409 - WJ412          4  
 WJ452 - WJ455    T.7      4  
 20 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, to contract 6/Acft/6407. Cancelled.
 WR920 - WR934    AOP.VI      15  
 WR939 - WR943    T.7      5  
 5 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, for the S.A.A.F., delivered in 1953.
 5407 - 5411  none?  AOP.VI  5      
 6 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, for the  Arab Legion (Jordanian) Air Force. 4 delivered as AOP.VI, 2 as T.7.
 A403 - A406  ????  AOP.VI  4      
 A410 - A411  ????  T.7  2      
 3 aircraft ordered from Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, for the  Burmese Air Force.
 ???  ????  T.7  3      
 
Total Production  (Military) 
 
466
 
138
 



Ex-RAF Auster AOP.VIs & T.7s Refurbished For Export

Production List Top Page Top 

Serial Range

Type

Qty

Notes

 17 aircraft supplied to the Royal Indian Air Force. Delivered in September 1947.
  AOP.VI 17 Ex TW585 - TW590, TW595 - TW598, TW613 - TW615, TW618, TW620, TW622, TW623
 5 aircraft supplied to the Royal Pakistan Air Force. Delivered in September 1947.
  AOP.VI 5 Ex TW592, TW594, TW598, TW613, TW617
 2 aircraft supplied to the Royal Australian Air Force. Delivered in January 1952 for the Antarctic Flight.
 A11-200 - A11-201 AOP.VI 2 VX126, VX127
 1 aircraft bought by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in July 1956.
 NZ1707 T.7 1 Ex WE563
  

 25

 

Serial Range

C/n

Batch Qty

Conv.

Canc'd

Notes

 Serial for one aircraft allocated. Not Built
 WB323 none   1 
 

Total Production

1

 



Auster T.10

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Converted from AOP.6

Serial Range

C/n

Conv.

Notes

 VF516, VF543 2285, 2300 (2) 
 VF628, VF636 2570, 2594 (2) 
 VX123, VX942, WJ363 none (3) 
 WJ368, WJ401, WJ404 none (3) 
 

Total Production 

(10)

 



Auster C4 Antarctic

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Converted from T.7

Serial Range

C/n

Batch Qty

Conv.

Canc'd

Notes

 2 aircraft converted by Auster Aircraft Ltd., Rearsby, in 1955 for the Trans Antarctic Expedition.
 WE563, WE600  (2) 
 

Total Production

(2)

  



Auster 6

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Converted from AOP.6

C/n

Initial Registration

Notes

C/n

Initial Registration

Notes

 none G-APRO Ex WJ370 2817 OO-FDD Ex Belgian AF A-9
 1925 G-BNGE Ex TW536 2818 OO-FDA Ex Belgian AF A-3
 1928 G-ALGW Ex TW562  not completed 2820 OO-FDB Ex Belgian AF A-7
 1942 D-ECKO Ex TW574 2821 OO-OVL Ex Belgian AF A-21
 2558 CF-MMY Ex RCAF16651 2824 OO-FDC Ex Belgian AF A-8
 2576 CF-KBV Ex RCAF16652 2825 OO-FDG Ex Belgian AF A-13
 2578 CF-FJM Ex RCAF16654 2826 OO-FDE Ex Belgian AF A-11
 2579 C-FKBW Ex RCAF16655 2827 OO-FDF Ex Belgian AF A-12
 2580 CF-LGM Ex RCAF16656 2831 OO-FDK Ex Belgian AF A-18
 2586 CF-XNF Ex RCAF16662 2832 OO-FDJ Ex Belgian AF A-17
 2587 CF-KJP Ex RCAF16663 2834 OO-FDH Ex Belgian AF A-15
 2589 CF-KGZ Ex RCAF16665 2835 OO-FDI Ex Belgian AF A-16
 2590 CF-LXT Ex RCAF16666 2836 OO-FDL Ex Belgian AF A-22
 2591 CF-LIC Ex RCAF16667 2853 CF-LPA Ex RCAF16675
 2596 CF-MOE Ex RCAF16668 2855 CF-LSU Ex RCAF16677
 2598 C-FLWK Ex RCAF16670 2857 CF-KFN Ex RCAF16679
 2599 CF-LWA Ex RCAF16671 2862 CF-OMW Ex RCAF16684
 2600 C-FLOE Ex RCAF16672 none C-GCID Ex ??
    none ZS-ECW  Ex SAAF5408 

Total Conversions  (36)

Total (Not Converted)  (1)



Auster 6A Tugmaster

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Converted from AOP.6

New C/n
(Original C/n)

Initial Registration

Notes

New C/n
(Original C/n)

Initial Registration

Notes

 (1905) G-ARDX Ex TW524 3724 G-ASHY Ex VX110
 (2261) G-ARKC Ex VF492 3725 G-ASNB Ex VX118
 (2281) G-ARRX Ex VF512 3727/1 (1910) SE-ELI Ex TW529
 (2295) G-ARXU Ex VF526 3728 (2452) SE-ELC Ex TW578
 (2299) G-ARGI Ex VF530 3731 (2451) OH-AUK Ex TW577
 (2463) G-ARIH Ex TW591 3732 (1934) SE-ELB Ex TW538
 (2482) G-ARCY Ex TW624 3734 SE-ELE Ex WJ373
 (2506) G-ASEG Ex VF548 3735 (1924) SE-ELF Ex TW571
 (2515) G-ARHM Ex VF557 3736 (2541) SE-ELG Ex VF600
 (2544) G-ASOC Ex VF603 3737 SE-ELH Ex spare airframe
 (2549) G-ASIP Ex VF608 3738 (1922) SE-ELP Ex TW537
 (2556) G-ASIF Ex VF615 3743 (2283) SE-ELM Ex VF514
 (2593) G-ARGB Ex VF635  3744 LN-AEV Ex spare airframe
  G-ASEF Ex VW985 3745 G-ASTI Ex WJ359
  G-ARYD Ex WJ358  ZS-EFL Ex SAAF 5409
  G-APRO Ex WJ370   

Total Conversions  (31)



Auster 7

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Converted from T.7

C/n

Initial Registration

Notes

 none CF-KLD Ex RCAF16690
 none CF-KPL Ex RCAF16692
 none CF-KPM  Ex RCAF16689               
 none CF-KYB Ex RCAF16691

Total Production   (4)




Auster A.61 Terrier 1

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Converted From Type As Noted

New C/n
(Original C/n)

Initial Registration

Notes

 

New C/n
(Original C/n)

Initial Registration

Notes

 (1936) G-ARLM Ex AOP.6 TW568 - see note 3  3720 G-ARLH Ex AOP.6 VX109
 (2296) G-ARRN Ex AOP.6 VF527  3721 G-ARLR Ex AOP.6 VW996
 (2487) G-ARLN Ex AOP.6 TW629 - see note 3  3722 G-ARNO Ex AOP.6 VX113
 (2500) G-ARLO Ex AOP.6 TW642 - see note 3  3723 G-ARTM Ex T.7 WE536
 (2506) G-ASEG Ex AOP.6 VF548  3724 G-ARLP Ex T.10 VX123 
 (2529) G-ARUI Ex AOP.6 VF571  3726 G-ARXL Ex T.7 WE555
 (2539) G-ARSL Ex AOP.6 VF581  3727 G-ARLN Ex T.7 WE558
 (2573) G-ARLM Ex AOP.6 VF631 - see note 3  3729 G-ARUX Ex T.7 WE611
 (2573) G-ARLP Ex AOP.6 VF631 - see note 3  3730 G-ASKJ Ex AOP.6 VX926
 (2575) G-ASCG Ex AOP.6 VF633  3733 SE-ELD Ex T.7 WE553
 (2577) C-FNQC Ex AOP.6 RCAF16653  3739 SE-ELK Ex T.7 VX935
  G-ATHU Ex T.7 WE539  3740 SE-ELL Ex T.10 VF543
  G-AVCR Ex T.7 WE572  3741 SE-ELN Ex T.7 WE554
  G-AVCS Ex AOP.6 WJ363  3742 G-ASZX Ex T.10 WJ368
     3746 G-AVYU Ex T.10 WJ401

Total Conversions  (26)



Auster A.61 Terrier 2

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Converted From Type As Noted

New C/n(2)
(Original C/n)

Initial Registration

Notes

New C/n(2)
(Original C/n)

Initial Registration

Notes

 B.601 G-ARLR Ex AOP.6 VW996 B.625 ZK-CDG Ex T.7 WE542
 B.602 G-ARZT Ex T.7 WE604 B.626 G-ASIE Ex AOP.6 VX924
 B.603 G-ARZU Ex T.7 WE535 B.627 G-ASOI Ex T.10 WJ404
 B.604 G-ASAK Ex T.7 WE591 B.628 (2592) G-ASWM Ex AOP.6 VF634
 B.605 G-ASAJ Ex T.7 WE569 B.629 (2285) G-ASMZ Ex T.10 VF516
 B.606 G-ASAC Ex T.7 WE587 B.630 (2296) G-ARRN Ex Terrier 1 
 B.607 (2508) G-ASAG Ex AOP.6 VF550 B.631 G-ASRL Ex T.7 WE609
 B.608 G-ASAN Ex T.7 VX928 B.632 G-ASEY Built from AOP.6 spares
 B.609 (1911) G-ASAX Ex AOP.6 TW533 B.633 G-ASRG Ex T.7 WE599
 B.610 G-ASAD Ex T.7 WE559 B.634 (2288) G-ASYN Ex AOP.6 VF519
 B.611 G-ASAE Ex T.7 WE606 B.635 (2552) G-ATBU Ex AOP.6 VF611
 B.612 G-ASBT Ex T.7 WE603 B.636 (2510) G-ASZE Ex AOP.6 VF522
 B.613 G-ASBU Ex T.7 WE570 B.637 G-ASYG Ex T.7 VX927
 B.614 D-ECKO Ex AOP.6 TW574 B.638 (2499) G-ATDN Ex AOP.6 TW641
 B.615 G-ASCD Ex AOP.6 VW993 B.639 (2533) G-ATKJ Ex AOP.6 VF575
 B.616 HB-EUD Ex T.7 WE571 B.640 (2502) G-ASPD Ex AOP.6 VF544
 B.617 G-ASCF Ex T.7 WE548 B.641 (2570) G-ASUI Ex T.10 VF628
 B.618 (2575) G-ASCG Ex AOP.6 VF633 B.643 (2562) G-ATMS Ex AOP.6 VF620
 B.619 (2523) G-ASCH Ex AOP.6 VF565 B.644 (2566) D-EEBN Ex AOP.6 VF624
 B.620 (2571) G-ASCI Ex AOP.6 VF629 B.645 (2487) EI-ARO Ex AOP.6 TW629
 B.621 G-ASOY Ex T.7 WE551 B.646 (1936) G-AYDW Ex AOP.6 TW568
 B.622 (2274) G-ASOM Ex AOP.6 VF505 B.647 G-AYDX Ex T.10 VX121
 B.623 G-ASFM Ex T.10 VX942 B.702 (2573) G-ASDK Ex Terrier 1 G-ARLM
 B.624 (2560) G-ASNT Ex AOP.6 VF618 B.703 (3727) G-ASDL Ex Terrier 1 G-ARLN

Total Conversions  (48)



Auster A.61 Terrier 3

Production List TopPage Top 

Aircraft Converted from AOP.6

C/n

Initial Registration

Notes

 B.642 G-AVYK Ex WJ357

Total Production   (1)




Production Summary Page Top
Summary - Military Aircraft By Customer Summary - Model K, All Aircraft By Type

Customer

AOP.VI

T.7

T.10

Type

Original Build

Conv.

Canc'd

 RAF / AAC 

333

77

(10)

 AOP.VI 

378

123

 RCAF 

36

6

 T.7 

88

15

 SAAF 

5

 AOP.8

1

 Arab Legion AF 

4

2

 T.10 

(10)

 Burma AF 

3

 Auster C.4 Antarctic 

(2)

378

88

(10)

 Auster 6 

(40)

 Auster 6A Tugmaster 

(31)

 Auster 7 

(4)

 Auster A.61 Terrier 1 

(26)

 Auster A.61 Terrier 2 

(48)

 Auster A.61 Terrier 3 

(1)

466

(162)

139

Notes
  1. C/n's given are for the whole serial batch and do NOT follow in order of serial numbers.
  2. Terrier 2 and 3 models were produced under the BEAGLE name and C/n's follow the BEAGLE numbering sequence.
  3. For ferrying from St. Athan to Kiddlington, TW568, TW629, TW642 and VF631 were allocated civil registrations G-ARLM-P respectively. However, only G-ARLO was to retain this identity along with its original c/n. TW568, TW629 and VF631 were converted to Terrier Series 2 as G-AYDW (c/n B.646) and EI-ARO (c/n B.645) and Terrier Intermediate Series 2 as G-ARLM (retaining c/n 2573) respectively [13].
  4. http://austerhg.org [4] gives TW580 as both c/n 1943 and 2453. The latter would appear to be more likely.

Production References
  1. British Civil Aircraft Since 1919, Vol 1, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1973)
  2. RAF Aircraft Register Series, Various Volumes (Air-Britain Publications)
  3. Auster Quarterly (Issues 1 to 6)
  4. http://austerhg.org/
  5. http://www.caa.co.uk
  6. Canadian Civil Aircraft Register at http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm
  7. Belgian Military Austers at http://belmilac.wikifoundry.com/page/Taylorcraft+Auster+AOP.6
  8. Air Enthusiast Quarterly 121
  9. Air Enthusiast Quarterly 122
  10. http://www.ukserials.com/
  11. Canadian Military Serials at http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/
  12. RAF Air Historical Branch: Contract Cards (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon)
  13. Beagle Aircraft - A Production History, Compiled by the Midland Counties Research Group (Midland Counties Publishing, 1974)

top



Page Revision History Page Top

Revised at Version 1.4.0
  • Corrected c/ns for Auster VIs and T.7s.
  • Cancelled note 1, added note 4.

Revised at Version 1.2.0
  • Deleted note 3 (associated to Terrier 2 c/n B.601).
  • Revised Terrier 1 details and added new note 3.
  • Revised Auster 7 details.

V1.4.4 Created by Roger Moss. Last updated August 2020