G-ARIH & Auster 6A Tugmaster History

………..and here’s another Tugmaster, this time G-ARHM at Sywell in 1977. My apologies for the truncated image – I hope that my photography has become a little better over the subsequent 35 years!

Returning briefly to G-ARXU, on consulting ‘Beagle Aircraft – A Production History’ (MCARG, 1974) I could find no refence to this Tugmaster. However I note that it was once registered to Air Tows Ltd. and so wonder whether it undertook the conversion, rather Auster or Beagle-Auster? I note that in the monograph it is stated that:

“After certification [of G-ARCY] F.Horridge [of Air Tows] completed further conversions but Rearsby’s first conversion was G-ARDX”.

So maybe I ought to delete the image of G-ARXU on the ground that it isn’t an Auster 6A Tugmaster and so doesn’t qualify for this thread!

………..and here’s another Tugmaster, this time G-ARHM at Sywell in 1977. My apologies for the truncated image – I hope that my photography has become a little better over the subsequent 35 years!

Returning briefly to G-ARXU, on consulting ‘Beagle Aircraft – A Production History’ (MCARG, 1974) I could find no refence to this Tugmaster. However I note that it was once registered to Air Tows Ltd. and so wonder whether it undertook the conversion, rather Auster or Beagle-Auster? I note that in the monograph it is stated that:

“After certification [of G-ARCY] F.Horridge [of Air Tows] completed further conversions but Rearsby’s first conversion was G-ARDX”.

So maybe I ought to delete the image of G-ARXU on the ground that it isn’t an Auster 6A Tugmaster and so doesn’t qualify for this thread!

Willip, is the book readily available?? sound interesting.

Readily available on a certain website: something to do with South American rivers………..!!!! Yours for under a “tenner” by the looks of it.

Willip, is the book readily available?? sound interesting.

Readily available on a certain website: something to do with South American rivers………..!!!! Yours for under a “tenner” by the looks of it.

It would also be very interesting to hear any anecdotes or historical information on the Tugmaster generally and particularly to see any photos of them, especially in glider towing action.

Here’s an image of G-ARXU whilst owned and operated by the Bath & Wilts Gliding Club at Keevil. She towed gliders regularly but I only seem to have photographed her on the ground in the course of the many weekends that I passed there in the 1970s!

It would also be very interesting to hear any anecdotes or historical information on the Tugmaster generally and particularly to see any photos of them, especially in glider towing action.

Here’s an image of G-ARXU whilst owned and operated by the Bath & Wilts Gliding Club at Keevil. She towed gliders regularly but I only seem to have photographed her on the ground in the course of the many weekends that I passed there in the 1970s!

Willip, is the book readily available?? sound interesting.

Willip, is the book readily available?? sound interesting.

Yes please Steve, the more the merrier!

There is another black and white photo of G-ARIH in Alastair Goodrum’s entertaining book on the history of recreational flying in the East Midlands, ‘Balloons, Bleriots and Barnstormers : 200 Years of Flying for Fun’.

This was taken during its glider towing days at Postland (Crowland) airfield near Spalding, where it was apparently known as the ‘Yellow Peril’.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Yes please Steve, the more the merrier!

There is another black and white photo of G-ARIH in Alastair Goodrum’s entertaining book on the history of recreational flying in the East Midlands, ‘Balloons, Bleriots and Barnstormers : 200 Years of Flying for Fun’.

This was taken during its glider towing days at Postland (Crowland) airfield near Spalding, where it was apparently known as the ‘Yellow Peril’.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

I have a colour photograph of G-ARIH at Withybush in about 1964 if you are interested?

I have a colour photograph of G-ARIH at Withybush in about 1964 if you are interested?

Auster G-ARIH

Since it doesn’t seem to have been posted yet, here what G-INFO has to say about the civil history about Auster G-ARIH

History 23/1/1961 to 1/15/1969: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-ARIH-1.pdf

History 14/5/1969 to 7/5/1985: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-ARIH-2.pdf

History 4/2/1977 to date http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=reg&fullregmark=ARIH

Official pictures at http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-ARIH&imgname=G-ARIH001&imgtype=jpg and a close up at http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-ARIH&imgname=G-ARIH002&imgtype=jpg

C/no. 2463: Military service as TW591 seems to have been with 664 Squadron, being struck off charge 17/6/1960

Auster G-ARIH

Since it doesn’t seem to have been posted yet, here what G-INFO has to say about the civil history about Auster G-ARIH

History 23/1/1961 to 1/15/1969: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-ARIH-1.pdf

History 14/5/1969 to 7/5/1985: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-ARIH-2.pdf

History 4/2/1977 to date http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=reg&fullregmark=ARIH

Official pictures at http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-ARIH&imgname=G-ARIH001&imgtype=jpg and a close up at http://www.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-ARIH&imgname=G-ARIH002&imgtype=jpg

C/no. 2463: Military service as TW591 seems to have been with 664 Squadron, being struck off charge 17/6/1960

For some reason it wont upload the second pic!!!

For some reason it wont upload the second pic!!!

A couple of pics have turned up from Dads collection, first one has the tal of RIH in shot plus a few other tugmasters in view. Most likely that this was taken at Poddington. The second is a Air to Air of RHM.:)

A couple of pics have turned up from Dads collection, first one has the tal of RIH in shot plus a few other tugmasters in view. Most likely that this was taken at Poddington. The second is a Air to Air of RHM.:)

Sorry but no date for this:

Photo from Tony Clarke Collection

Sorry but no date for this:

Photo from Tony Clarke Collection