Auster AOP.6 TW571

Thank´s a lot for the info, avion ancien!

Would there be more photos left of Kidlington in 1963? Still looking for a picture of VF608/G-ASIP in camouflage colors.

AA: I think I’ve got that photo somewhere too.

I recall visiting KIdlington in April 63 and seeing four (maybe five) Terriers all carrying the class B marks G-35-11……..

Not quite pre-conversion data, but from ‘Beagle Aircraft – a Production History’ (compiled by MCARG)(MCP 1974):

‘3735
SE-ELF
f/f 17/6/64
Built from AOP.6 TW571 c/n 1924. D/d 6/7/64 to Aeroklubben i Goteborg, Goteborg. Current with Vindelns Flygklubb, Vindelns.’

Just as an aside, and as it may be of interest to Laurence, the book contains a photograph taken at Kidlington in April 1963 showing Terrier 2s in storage there – with both aeroplanes in foreground of the picture carrying the B class marking G-35-11!

Does anyone in this forum know when TW571 was manufactured?

No I stupidly did not take any photos that day. The only photo I have is one that someone sent me, but of the camouflaged TWs in the hangar.

I would be delighted if you could perhaps scan that pic and send it over 🙂

PM on its way.

Look at your PMs.
Laurence

Hello Laurence,

If you can make your way to Scampton (or even just as close as England!) then I would be more than happy to take you flying in her.

I will find the cam photo I have of her and post it on here. I don’t have an electronic copy of it so I cant post it now. But I shall get it sorted and make sure you get to see it!

I also thought that the T7’s were always silver, but my photo shows that that’s not the case!

As for landing… It’s a challenge every time!

Hello VX.
What a great picture. Can I fly her one day? If only…… I can still feel that twitchy sensation on finals hoping the landing would be a walk-away again. Austers were more difficult to land than Tiger Moths.
No I stupidly did not take any photos that day. The only photo I have is one that someone sent me, but of the camouflaged TWs in the hangar.
Looking at my original log, I made no comment on 927 being cam or silver: I assume it was silver. I thought the T7s were always just silver with yellow bands. Maybe I am wrong. Can I see your picture of her in cam? (in the thread or PM).

Laurence

Hello Laurance,

Do you have any photographs that you can share with us? Do you have any memories of VX927… Was she camoflaged at that time? I’ve seen photos of he in camoflaged and silver.

Here is a more recent photo of her!

OK. I had been flying Tigers Moths and an Auster at Cambridge, and was in 1961 on Chipmunks at OUAS at Bicester. So Kidlington’s invasion by Austers was a great experience!

Here is my record:
22 October 1961 TW526 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON Camouflaged. Dismantled. “C”
22 October 1961 TW529 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON Camouflaged. Dismantled. -SE-ELI
22 October 1961 TW538 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON Camouflaged. Dismantled. “M”. -SE-ELB
22 October 1961 TW571 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON Camouflaged. Dismantled. -SE-ELF
22 October 1961 TW574 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON Camouflaged. Dismantled. -D-ECKO
22 October 1961 TW577 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON Camouflaged. Dismantled. “M”
22 October 1961 TW578 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON Camouflaged. Dismantled
22 October 1961 TW579 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON Camouflaged. Dismantled
22 October 1961 VF544 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON -G-ASPD
22 October 1961 VF550 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON -G-ASAG
22 October 1961 VF603 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON “G”
22 October 1961 VF608 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON -G-ASIP
22 October 1961 VF629 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON -G-ASCI
22 October 1961 VF633 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON -G-ASCG
22 October 1961 VF642 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON
22 October 1961 VW995 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON
22 October 1961 VX110 Auster AOP6 KIDLINGTON -G-ASHY
22 October 1961 VX927 Auster T7 KIDLINGTON -G-ASYG
22 October 1961 WE559 Auster T7 KIDLINGTON “Z” -G-ASAD
22 October 1961 WE569 Auster T7 KIDLINGTON Silver “R”
22 October 1961 WE570 Auster T7 KIDLINGTON Silver
22 October 1961 WE591 Auster T7 KIDLINGTON Silver
22 October 1961 WE604 Auster T7 KIDLINGTON Silver, dismantled. -G-ARZT

Of these, the camouflaged AOP6s were wingless (stacked alongside) and parked in a hangar nose to tail, like wine bottles. However, some of the T7s (eg WE 569, 570 and 591) looked ready to fly!

I hope we are not off-thread, but it is relevent to SE-Fred’s original question!

Laurence

Go for it mate I’d like to know as it was a favourite haunt of mine as a school boy. Used to regularly cycle the 3 miles from my home in Islip on a Sunday afternoon. Now I live jus the other side of the village from the most boring GA airfield in the UK as nothing unusual seems to be based here anymore. Remeber seeing a Cessna 210 on regular basis Reg: G-ARAB, anyone have any info on the currnet staus of this airframe?

Kidlington Austers 12961

If anyone wants my list of the 23 Austers at Kidlington in 1961, let me know.
Laurence

edskarf & l.garey

Many thanks! I have fwd the info to the owner of SE-ELF.

I saw it at Kidlington on 22.10.1961. It was already dismantled, and was definitely camouflaged.
There were 22 other Austers with it!

Laurence

TW571

Without photographic evidence I am not 100% certain but I think your friend has a choice of schemes.

Initially when serving with with 43 OTU/227 OCU the scheme would have been all silver. At some stage the aircraft was coded PF-V. Yellow training bands may also have been worn.

At the end of its career it is likely have worn a camouflage scheme. When operating with 657 Squadron in 1952/3 it is recorded as being coded TS-D.

In between times (December 1951 – July 1952) it served with 1900 Flight in Libya (Castel Benito & El Adem) possibly in an all silver scheme without a code.

Your best chance to get more accurate information on Auster colour schemes is via the Leicestershire Museum but be aware that this service is operated on a voluntary basis so do not expect a rapid response.