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Auster J/2 Arrow, J/3 Atom and J/4 Archer

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

These were the second, third and fourth sub series developed from the original Model J.

Type Description and Production Data

'Sharps Special' J/2 Arrow J/3 Atom J/4 Archer
Production Summary
'Sharps Special'
Un-named two seat tourer, based on the Model Plus C, with the wing struts anchored further forward to improve access and featuring a horn balanced rudder. The twin passenger doors and improved visibility provided by transparent roof panels and sloping side windows aft of the doors, introduced on the Model Plus D, were fitted, though the latter were larger and more rounded. Like the Plus C, no wing flaps were fitted. One 65 h.p. Lycoming 0-145-B3 powerplant.
The aircraft was known as the 'Sharp's Special' after Ken Sharp, Manager of Taylorcrafts No.7 Works.
Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 aircraft built by Taylorcraft Aeroplanes, Rearsby. First flew (August?) 1945.
 1660  G-AGPS  
Total Production  1
J/2 Arrow
Two seat tourer, based on the 'Sharps Special'. The wing strut anchor points were returned to the normal position and it featured the same tailplane as the J/1 Autocrat with mass balanced rudder. One 75 h.p. Continental C-75-12 powerplant.

Non-Auster Produced J/2 Variants

  • J/2 Special
  • Three J/2 Arrow aircraft converted in 1958/9 by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW, and fitted with a 108 hp Lycoming O-235-C1 powerplant.
  • J/2C "Super Arrow"
  • One J/2 Arrow, c/n 2390, converted in 1959 by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW, with a 125 h.p. Continental C-125-2 powerplant featuring an enclosed cowling.

J/2 Arrow Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
36 ft 22 ft 9 in 6 ft 8 in 185 sq ft 872 lb 1450 lb 87 mph/ 76 kn 98 mph/ 85 kn 320 mi 10000 ft
10.97 m 6.93 m 2.03 m 17.19 m2 396 kg 658 kg 140 km/h 158 km/h 515 km 3048 m

Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 44 aircraft built by The Auster Aircraft Company, Rearsby. Built between 1946 and 1947.
 1878 (2)  G-AICA  Auster J/2 prototype First flew under B Conditions as Z1 on 16 July 1946 and retained by Auster Aircraft Ltd. To F-BAVS. The erroneous duplication of c/n
 has led many references to incorrectly indicate this to be a conversion of J/1 Autocrat c/n 1878.
 2351  G-AIGN  To Reg Burton, Nottingham. To VH-BNP. Converted to J/2 Special in 1958 for the Royal Queensland Aero Club, Archerfield and registered VH-RQK.
 To VH-PUK.
 2352  G-AIGW  To Cairn Motor Co. To VH-BDE and converted in April 1957 to a J/4 Archer by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW. To VH-KFB, VH-CRR.
 2353  VP-YFX  To the Rhodesian Aircraft and Maintenance Service Ltd.
 2354  OO-ABP  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels. To F-BFVJ, F-AZDZ.
 2355  OY-ABY  To Scanaviation A/S, Copenhagen.
 2356  LN-NAN  To Bill and Fly A/S, Oslo, but crashed on delivery and not officially taken up.
 2357  CX-AKG  To Pedro Camilo, Melo.
 2358  SE-ARR  To Yngve Johansson, Örkelljunga, via Ostermans Aero AB, Stockholm.
 2359  CS-ACJ  To Sciedade Tecnica de Aviação Ltda, Lisbon.
 2360  OO-ABR  To J Albert Van Cotthem, St Pieters Leeuw. To OO-YVD, LX-REX.
 2361  G-AIJU  To Kenning Aviation Ltd, Burnaston. To VH-BNQ. To Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW, in May 1951 and converted to J/4T. After testing
 found unsatisfatory and reverted to J/4 Archer Special configuration. To VH-KFF, VH-CGF, VH-BNQ.
 2362  G-AIJV  To Auster Aircraft Ltd, but damaged on delivery flight. To John S Tyndale Biscoe, Kingston, Jamaica, in 1959 as VP-JAR.
 2363  VP-UAP  To The Uganda Co Ltd, Entebbe. To VP-KGZ.
 2364  EI-ACU  To GA Brittain, Dublin.
 2365  G-AJRL  Originally for Recubarren and Cia Ltda, Chile. Not delivered and retained by Auster. To The Royal Queensland Aero Club, Archerfield, via Kingsford Smith
 Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW, in June 1953 as VH-BYZ. Converted to J/2 Special in 1958/9 (?) and registered VH-RQM. To VH-BYZ.
 2366  OO-ABS  To Ecole de Pilotage de Coninck SA, Ghent. To F-BFVV, F-BFUV, G-BEAH.
 2367  LV-NUH  To Anderson Levanti and Co Ltd, Buenos Aires.
 2368  LV-NUI  To Anderson Levanti and Co Ltd, Buenos Aires.
 2369  OO-AXM  To Ghent Aero Club, Ghent.
 2370  VH-UAO  To The Uganda Co Ltd, Kampala. To VP-KHD, 5Y-KHD, G-BHZW, G-BJTC, VS-VAA.
 2371  G-AJAM  To Wheels and Wings Ltd, Birmingham.
 2372  G-AJRR  To Aviation Industries and Associated Services Pty Ltd as ZS-BNN, but not delivered. To Auster Aircraft and stored. To the Tasmanain Aero Club in March
 1952 as VH-KBR, via Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW.
 2373  ZS-BNO  To Aviation Industries and Associated Services Pty Ltd. To VP-YFY, 9J-RBH, VP-WDO, ZS-VMV, N322MV.
 2374  OO-ABT  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels.
 2375  OO-ABU  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels.
 2376  YP-YGO  To the Rhodesian Aircraft and Maintenance Service Ltd.
 2377  OO-ABV  To Ecole de Pilotage de Coninck SA, Ghent, via Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels. To F-AZFA.
 2378  OO-ABZ  To Ecole de Pilotage de Coninck SA, Ghent, via Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels. To F-BGJQ, G-AWLX.
 2379  OO-ABW  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels as OO-ABW, but not delivered and stored. To DL Murray, Albion Park, NSW, in February 1951 as
 VH-KAM, via Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW.
 2380  OO-ABX  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels. To D-EKYS
 2381  PT-AED  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels as OO-ABY, but not delivered and stored. To Jaoa Antonio Fogliatto and Pedro Jo Fogliatto, Tupanciretã,
 Rio Grande, in March 1951 as PT-AED. To PP-XEC.
 2382  OO-AXA  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels.
 2383  OO-AXB  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels.
 2384  VH-KAY  Originally registered to Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels as OO-AXF, but ntu and stored. To VF White, Bourke, NSW in 1951 as VH-KAY, via
 Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW. To VH-RQL, VH-PUL. Converted to J/2 Special in 1958/9 for the Royal Queensland Aero Club,
 Archerfield. To VH-RQL, VH-PUL.
 2385  PT-AEE  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels as OO-AXD, but not delivered and stored. To Evarista Fonseca as PT-AEE.
 2386  G-AJXZ  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels as OO-AXE, but not delivered and stored. To Alexander Stuart Mackenzie-Low, Bexhill-on-Sea, in August
 1951 as G-AJXZ, fitted with oversize wheels for grass field operations. To VH-AFD.
 2387  OO-AXG  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels as OO-AXC, but not delivered and stored. To G Lagrange, Antwerp, in October 1951 as OO-AXG. To
 D-EMYG, OY-ALY, SE-AMN.
 2388  VH-KAF  To Appareillage Technique et Industriel, Brussels as OO-AXG, but not delivered and stored. To To the Aero Club of South Tasmania, Cambridge, in August
 1951 as VH-KAF, via Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW. To VH-KAC, VH-MJB. Now in the Recreational Aviation Australia register as
 24-4566.
 2389  G-AJPS  To Somerton Airways, Cowes. To VH-ABF. Converted to Auster J/4 Archerr in 1955 by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW, and registered
 VH-BYL.
 2390  VH-ACD  Originall registered to Auster Aircraft Ltd as G-AJPT. To CG Henderson, Brisbane, in June 1952, via Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW.
 Converted to J/2C Super Arrow in 1957 with same owner.
 2391  EI-AND  To GA Brittain, Dublin.
 2392  G-AJPU  To John McConachie Rolls, Lennoxtown.
 2393  VH-KAE  Originally registered to Auster Aircraft Ltd as G-AJPV. To Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW, in September 1950.
Total Production 44
J/3 Atom
As Model J/2, fitted with a 65 h.p. Continental C-65-12.
Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 aircraft built by the Auster Aircraft Company. First flew 6 September 1946.
 2250  G-AHSY  To Auster Aircraft Ltd. Rebuilt as J/4 c/n 2941.
 2401  G-AJIJ  To Auster Aircraft Ltd. Not completed.
Total Production  1
Total Production (Not Completed)  1
J/4 Archer
As Model J/2, fitted with a 90 h.p. Cirrus Minor I powerplant.

Non-Auster Produced J/4 Variants

  • J/4S
  • One Model Plus D, c/n 125, converted by Thurston Engineering Ltd, Stapleford, in 1963 and fitted with a 100 h.p. Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2A powerplant.
  • J/4T Archer Special
  • One J/2 Arrow, c/n 2361, converted in 1951 by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW, and fitted with a 100 h.p. Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2A powerplant and an experimental tricycle undercarriage.
  • J/4 Archer Special
  • Sole J/4T Archer Special, having reverted to standard tailwheel undercarriage in 1958.
  • J/4 Series 100
  • Two J/4 aircraft converted by the Rolls-Royce Merlin Flying Club, Hucknall and fitted with a 100 h.p. Rolls-Royce Continental 0-200-A powerplant. First conversion in 1964.

J/4 Archer Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
36 ft 23 ft 6 in 6 ft 8 in 185 sq ft 955 lb 1600 lb 92 mph/ 80 kn 108 mph/ 94 kn 317 mi 12500 ft
10.97 m 7.16 m 2.03 m 17.19 m2 433 kg 726 kg 148 km/h 174 km/h 510 km 3810 m

Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 27 aircraft built by The Auster Aircraft Company, Rearsby, between 1946 and 1947, plus 1 not completed and 3 built from J/3 in 1950.
 2066  G-AIGZ  Initially laid down as a J/2 but completed as a J/4.
 2067  G-AIJK  To Wheels and Wings, Birmingham, via Cecil Kay Aircraft Ltd, Birmingham.
 2068  G-AIJL  To Arnold G Wilson, Leeds. To VH-AAG, VH-FRD.
 2069  G-AIJM  To Richard Harols Arthur Hubber Thorne, Farnborough. To EI-BEU, G-AIJM.
 2070  G-AIJN  To Kenning Aviation Ltd, Burnaston. To VH-AAO, VH-KFC, VH-CDQ.
 2071  G-AIJO  To Russel Gunton, Nottingham. To LX-REX, D-ECYS, D-EFYW, OY-ECG.
 2072  G-AIJP  To Auster Aircraft Ltd and operated by the Rearsby Flying School. To VH-AET.
 2073  G-AIJR  To Loxhams Flying Services Ltd, Lancaster. To EI-CPN
 2074  G-AIJS  Sold February 1947 but not registered and presumed stored. To Louise Hyder, Ipswich, in June 1950.
 2075  G-AIJT  To George Tisdale and William Lawrence Cartwright, Leamington Spa. Converted in 1968 to J/4 Srs 100 by the Rolls-Royce Merlin Flying Club, Hucknall.
 2076  G-AIPG  To Bertram Frederick Francis, Edgeware, Middlesex, via Cecil Kay Aircraft Ltd, Birmingham. To VP-KNB, VP-UBF, 5Y-UBF.
 2077  G-AIPH  To Wright Aviation, Speke. Converted in 1964 to J/4 Srs 100 by the Rolls-Royce Merlin Flying Club, Hucknall. First flew as such on 6 January 1966 under B
 Conditions as G-37-5, before reverting to G-AIPH.
 2078  G-AIPI  Sold May 1947 but not registered and presumed stored. To T Shipside Ltd, Tollerton, in September 1948.
 2079  G-AIPJ  To the County Borough of Southend-on-Sea. To VH-AAK, VH-PJN
 2080  G-AIPK  To the Birmingham Flying Club, via Cecil Kay Aircraft Ltd, Birmingham. To ZK-AXC and fitted with a Lycoming O-320 powerplant in January 1974 when
 owned by Bruce J Bonner, Christchurch.
 2081  G-AIPL  To Aircraft (hereford) Ltd, Hereford. To VH-AEA, VH-KFG, VH-CYR.
 2082  G-AIPM  To Robert Knight, Newark. To VH-AEC, VH-KFE, VH-CGD.
 2083  HB-EOX  Initially registered G-AIPP to Auster Aircraft Ltd. To Sportcar AG, Dübendorf. To F-OAHD.
 2084  G-AIPR  To Hilary Charles Nicholas Goodhart, Hewbury, Berks.
 2085  G-AIPS  To Capt Patrick William Beresford Everard, Leicester.
 2086  G-AIRD  To T Shipside, Tollerton.
 2087  G-AIZP  To Auster Aircraft Ltd.
 2088  G-AIZR  To Auster Aircraft Ltd and stored. To Aéro Club de Brazzaville, Congo, in January 1952 as F-OAKI. To CR-LDJ.
 2089  G-AIZS  To Auster Aircraft Ltd and stored. To Aéro Club du Sine-Saloum, Congo, in December 1952 as F-OALT.
 2090  G-AIZT  To Auster Aircraft Ltd and stored. Retained for tests and employees use within the Auster Flying Club Ltd.
 2091  G-APJM  To Auster Aircraft Ltd and stored.To Light Plane Maintenance Services, Borehamwood.
 2092  (none)  Allocated, but presumed stored and used for spares.
 2352  VH-BDE  Ex J/2 converted in April 1957 by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW. To VH-KFB, VH-CRR.
 2389  VH-BYL  Ex J/2 converted in 1955 by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service, Bankstown, NSW.
 2941  G-AJYX  Built from J/3 G-AHSY. To Auster Aircraft Ltd and used by the Rearsby Flying School.
Total Production 27
Total Production, By Converson from J/2 and J/3 (3)
Total Production (Not Completed) 1

Production Summary

All Aircraft By Type
Type Built New Conv Canc'd Total
 'Sharps Special' 1 1
 J/2 Arrow 44 44
 J/3 Atom 1 1 2
 J/4 Archer 27 (3) 1 31
73 (3) 2

Notes

  1. Details of some of the dealers and distributors who supplied Auster aircraft may be found in Auster V and Auster J/1 Notes.

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. Beagle News No.6 (J/4-100) - available to download from the Auster Heritage Group

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Page completely rewritten based on [1] and [2].
Revised at Version 1.2.0
  • C/n 2357: added registration.