From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1940s British observation aircraft prototype
A.2/45
|
|
VL523 the second prototype
|
Role
|
Air Observation aircraft
Type of aircraft
|
National origin
|
United Kingdom
|
Manufacturer
|
Auster Aircraft Limited
|
First flight
|
27 Apr 1948
|
Number built
|
2
|
The
Auster A.2/45
was a British late 1940s single-engined high-wing air observation monoplane built by
Auster Aircraft Limited
at
Rearsby
,
Leicestershire
. It was designed and built to meet
Air Ministry Specification
A.2/45 for an "air observation post" (AOP) for the
British Army
, the requirement was withdrawn and only two prototypes were built.
[1]
Design and development
[
edit
]
The Auster Model N normally known by the specification number as the A.2/45 was a
strut-braced
high-wing monoplane
with a single
DH Gipsy Queen
engine, the enclosed cabin had room for a pilot and observer seated in tandem. It had a
conventional landing gear
with a tail wheel.
The British
Air Ministry Specification
A.2/45 was issued on 20 July 1945 for an Air Observation Aircraft to meet Operational Requirement OR.176 in particularly for operation from unprepared landing grounds.
[1]
Contracts for four prototypes from both Auster and the
Heston Aircraft Company
were placed on 21 August 1945, this was later reduced to just two aircraft from each company.
[1]
The Heston competitor for the specification was the
Heston JC.6
.
The first prototype Auster A.2/45
VL522
flew on 27 April 1948. The Air Ministry requirement was cancelled on 20 March 1950 and only the two prototypes were built.
[1]
Specifications
[
edit
]
Data from
Flight 8 September 1949,
[2]
Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1949?50
[3]
General characteristics
- Crew:
2 (pilot, observer)
- Length:
30 ft 1 in (9.17 m)
- Wingspan:
43 ft 6 in (13.26 m)
- Height:
8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
- Wing area:
278 sq ft (25.8 m
2
)
- Gross weight:
3,365 lb (1,526 kg)
- Fuel capacity:
24 imp gal (29 US gal; 110 L) in a port wing root fuel tank, with provision for an identical tank in the starboard wing root for ferry flights.
- Powerplant:
1 ×
de Havilland Gipsy Queen 34
6-cylinder inverted air-cooled inline piston engine, 250 hp (190 kW)
- Propellers:
2-bladed
Performance
- Maximum speed:
130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
- Cruise speed:
122 mph (196 km/h, 106 kn)
- Economical cruise speed:
105 mph (91 kn; 169 km/h)
- Range:
600 mi (970 km, 520 nmi)
- Ferry range:
1,100 mi (1,800 km, 960 nmi) with optional second tank
- Service ceiling:
15,500 ft (4,700 m) service ceiling
- Rate of climb:
740 ft/min (3.8 m/s) initial rate of climb
- Take off run to clear 50 m (160 ft):
330 yd (300 m)
- Landing distance from 50 m (160 ft):
220 yd (200 m)
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
d
Meekcoms, K.J.; Morgan, E.B. (1994).
The British aircraft specifications file : British military and commercial aircraft specifications 1920?1949
. Tonbridge: Air-Britain. p. 334.
ISBN
0851302203
.
- ^
"BRITAIN'S AIRCRAFT:Auster A.2/45"
(pdf)
.
Flight
: 273. 8 September 1949
. Retrieved
21 November
2018
.
- ^
Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1949).
Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1949?50
. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. pp. 18c?19c.