Auster D Series

For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Contents

Type Description

• D4/108
• 2 seat touring monoplane based on a J/2 Arrow fuselage fitted with J/1U tail surfaces; it was originally proposed with both the 32 ft span wings and wide chord ailerons of the J/5F Aiglet Trainer, or 36 ft span wings and wide chord ailerons of the J/5Q Alpine. In the event, all D.4s built had 36 ft span wings, built with metal spars and with a single wing tank in starboard wing only. 108 h.p. Lycoming O-235-C1 powerplant.

• D5/160
• 3 seat touring monoplane based on a J/1N Alpha fuselage fitted with J/1U tail surfaces and undercarriage, along with standard 36 ft span wings and wide chord ailerons of the J/5Q Alpine, but with metal spars. 160 h.p. Lycoming O-320-A2A powerplant.

• D5/180
• D5 with 180 h.p. Lycoming O-360-A1A powerplant.

• D5/180 Husky
• Model D5 fitted with an hydraulic braking system, low pressure tyres, individually adjustable front seats, a steerable tailwheel, landing lights in the port wing leading edge and a central roof-mounted flap control lever, similar to that fitted to the Auster J/ 8L. 180 h.p. Lycoming O-360-A2A powerplant.

• D6/160
• 4 seat touring monoplane based on a J/5B Autocar fuselage fitted with J/1U tail surfaces, along with standard 36 ft span wings and wide chord ailerons of the J/5Q Alpine, but with metal spars. 160 h.p. Lycoming O-320-A2A powerplant.. 160 h.p. Lycoming O-320-A2A powerplant.

• D6/180
• D6 with 180 h.p. Lycoming O-360-A1A powerplant.

Production Tables Index

D4/108 (Auster Production)
D5/160 (Auster Production)
D5/180 and Husky (Auster Production)
D6/160 and D6/180
D8/180
OGMA Production (All Aircraft)
Aircraft Supplied to Military Air Arms

Notes

1. O.G.M.A. - "Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico" (changed to "Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal" in 1994), Alverca do Ribatejo, Portugal.
2. This aircraft was built under high security. The self-styled King of Thailand, Mr. Poonperm Krairiksh (actually not a member of the royal family but closely connected), visited Rearsby personally to place an order for one aircraft, and such was the secrecy placed upon the order that for a while production floor records displayed the aircraft as '3687 -Burmese Embassy'. Delivered to the Royal Thai Police as Serial No. 1409.
3. A contract was signed between Auster and the Portuguese Government in November 4 1959,  concerning the production in England of 15 Auster D.5 and 5 Auster D.4 and the supply of 150 kits (9 D.4 and 141 D.5/160) to OGMA to be used in the production of the aircraft, but only 147 were actually flown, the remaining 3 being used as a fatigue rig or spare airframes. Similarly, 5 kits were supplied to convert aircraft to D5/180 standard, but only 4 appear to have been used.
4. The first D.4 for Portugal, G-25-8, had wooden spars initially but these were replaced by metal alloy spars before delivery.
5. G-ARLG was constructed from spares left over from the Portuguese contract, including the wings with wooden spars originally used on G-25-8. It did not have the dorsal fin as fitted to the Portuguese aircraft.

Production References

1. Auster - The Company and the Aircraft, Tom Wenham, Rod Simpson, Malcolm Filmore (Air Britain Publishing, 2018)
2. Auster Production Histories, Malcolm Filmore (Air Britain Publishing, 2020)
3. British Civil Aircraft Since 1919 Vol 1, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1973)
4. Austers - 'Nearly All You Want To Know', Mike Preston and Mick Ames (International Club Heritage Group, 2002 - available to download from the Auster Heritage Group)
5. The History of the Auster Aeroplane, A.V. Hitchman and Mike Preston (The International Auster Club Heritage Group, 2006 - available to download from the Auster Heritage Group))
6. Auster Quarterly Issue 5 - available to download from the Auster Heritage Group
7. Air Enthusiast No. 86
8. Additional D4 details via e-mail from Ian O'Niell/David Sargent (Air Britain AB-IX Forum, 17 March 2021).