Where did all the RHKAAF Austers end up?

People are not mentioning the ‘BTW’ Austers because the thread is about the RHKAAF Austers.

Last week, I was on-line researching RAF accidents that happened here in Hong Kong. 8b

] Auster AOP 9

] WE557 SOC 20/10/65

http://rhkaaf.com/the-aircraft/aircraft-registrations.html

This source has a “WF557” on this date?
I guess “WE557” is correct?

] HKG-7: ex-RAF XN408 TOC 7/10/1965. Written off
] 16/10/1967: damaged beyond repair when crashed at
] Shek Kong. However, later sold to USA, became
] N408XN; pres. Florida Air Museum, Lakeland

Apparently, XN408 cannibalised WZ731 and XN410.

http://rhkaaf.com/the-aircraft/aircraft-registrations.html
http://www.worldairforces.com/countries/hongkong/HKGaircraft.html

‘Crashed at Shek Kong (Denis Moyes).
Sold to E.J. Gothard (USA) in 1971.
Rebuilt in 1981 using fuselage from XN408, wings from WZ731 and rudder from XN410.
Registration number N408XN.’

] HKG-9: ex-RAF XN410 TOC 3/1/1967 Written off 8/2/1970

http://rhkaaf.com/the-aircraft/aircraft-registrations.html
http://rhkaaf.com/the-people/in-memoriam.html

These sources have the date as 2 August 1970.

BTW, no one seems to mention “XK420”?

25 July 1963:
Taylorcraft Auster AOP.9.
XK420.
20 Recce Flight, RAF.

‘Caught by a down draught when crossing a ridge after an all up weight take off.
It crashed one mile WNW of Tai Mo Shan [Mountain], Hong Kong, after the engine stalled when the pilot was attempting to regain control.
The pilot and both passengers were killed.’

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18119
http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1963.htm

BTW^2, no one seems to mention “WZ719”, “WZ720”, “XN411”?

1 September 1962:
Auster AOP.9 x 3.
WZ719.
WZ720.
XN411.
20 Recce Flight, RAF.

‘All were damaged beyond repair during the destruction of Sha Tin Base, Hong Kong, by Typhoon Wanda.’

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18107
http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1962.htm

BTW^3, no one seems to mention “TW626”?

16 November 1953:
Taylorcraft Auster AOP.6.
TW626. C/N 2484.
1903 Flight, RAF.

Two crew OK.

‘Written off (damaged beyond repair) 16.11.1953: blown off airstrip into a ditch on landing at Fort George, Hong Kong.’

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18071

Thanks guys

Interesting indeed, much appreciated.

In the meantime, here is a pic of AOP-9 HKG 6 taken from Roys website I thought you might like. Some great pics also of her 2 months later with her top screen blown out due to spinning!

This is only one of a series of nice air to airs of this plane.

Cheers
Anthony

Various Austers have been exported to the USA over the years with no connection with the RHKAAF . For example MK.9 WZ672 was with the Radio Flight at Bedford and sold into civil hands with F&H Aircraft before export to the USA.

A few more crumbs for consideration…….

N47DN 5J1 s/n 2140
N22443 5J1 s/n 2034

N3675 Mk6 s/n TAY859BJ
N803KB AOP9 s/n WZ-672
Am unable to connect the above two with the RHKAAF.

N38220 Mk6 s/n TAY334W
N38224 AOP9 s/n B510125
The above two are not currently registered and am unable to connect with the RHKAAF. 🙂

Hi guys

Just revisiting my earlier thread, at this stage I have had no real joy finding where most of these airframes have ended up as of today. Many went to the US but I know no more.

Oh, you have to check out this excellent website www.rhkaaf.com on the RHKAAF, tons of interesting photos and ORB’s etc….hours of reading!

Roy and his son have to be congratulated on their efforts with the help of the RHKAAF Historical society for going through their archives. Turned up some great pics of my Auster…even a cockpit shot from the 50’s of my actual plane!

Anyway, any help would be appreciated and I am sure Roy would be grateful for any info on survivors.

Cheers
Anthony

.

John -your list needs updating ! The Auster N408XN used to be at Lakeland but not any more. I think the gentleman who brought these aircraft to the U.S might well be Charles Luzier who lives in Florida.

Thanks John!

That is all excellent info and has filled a few gaps for me. Especially the AOP-9’s

I wonder what happened to parts of these airframes that were w/o? I heard a story that an American brought up everything left over in the 70/80’s and took it back to the States??

Thanks again, all good information!

Cheers
Anthony

Where did all the RHKAAF Austers end up?

OK, I ‘ll get the ball rolling…

Austers were operated by the (Royal) Hong Kong AAF from 1949 to 1971. Originally they were operated with RAF serials, but later used the HK AAF’s own serials from HKG-4 to HKG-9. It should be noted that the same serial (e.g. HKG-6) was used by more than one aircraft, although not simultaneously!

Auster V

TW438: TOC 4/10/1949 wfu/soc 31/12/1950 – sold to Hong Kong Flying Club

Auster AOP.6

WJ366: TOC 28/7/1958 written off 20/12/1958 – Stalled and dived into the ground at Tasi Tam, Tytam Bay, Hong Kong, after wing-over at low altitude. Pilot, Norman Lo, was killed

TW629: TOC 18/5/1951 wfu/soc 25/4/1953 (presumably after accident?)

VW991: TOC 2/11/1949 written off 8/6/1950, soc 10/5/1951 (presumably after accident?)

HKG-5 (1st) c/no 2844 ex-RAF VF643 TOC 4/10/1949 soc/sold 7/10/1971 became N38220 (*Was HKG-5 from 28/10/1966 to 7/10/1971)

VF644: TOC 4/10/1949 wfu/soc 28/10/1966 sold in USA

Auster AOP 9

HKG-6 (1st) ex-RAF WZ731 TOC 4/10/1965 SOC 6/9/1966

HKG-6 (2nd) ex-RAF XN407 TOC 3/1/1967 SOC 31/12/1971 Sold in USA as N38224

HKG-7: ex-RAF XN408 TOC 7/10/1965. Written off 16/10/1967: damaged beyond repair when crashed at Shek Kong. However, later sold to USA, became N408XN; pres. Florida Air Museum, Lakeland

HKG-9: ex-RAF XN410 TOC 3/1/1967 Written off 8/2/1970 crashed into the South China sea

Auster T.7

WE537: d/d 2/3/1950, sold to Hong Kong Auiliary AF 11/11/1950, written off 8/10/1951

VX934: d/d 12/1/1950, transferred 13/7/1951 to RHKAAF, s.o.c. 21/12/1959 Kai Tak, Hong Kong (wfu and scrapped)

HKG-4; ex-RAF WE552 d/d 28/7/1950, to Hong Kong Auxiliary AF 28/10/1966. There’s a thread about this Auster at http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=102197 and another at http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Airshows&action=print&thread=11384

WE590: d/d 19/03/1951, to RHKAAF, w/o 24/11/1963. Damaged in a flying accident at Kai Tak, Hong Kong. Repairs proved uneconomical and it was declared a write off. SOC 01/01/1964 CAT.5(c)

Thanks for that Newforest

Much appreciated

Cheers
Anthony

My little research provides:

WE538 18/12/51 crashed in a ditch
WE543 crashed 7/3/52
WE552 Hong Kong Government 28/10/66
WE557 SOC 20/10/65
WE590 SOC 1/2/64
WE605 SOC 28/6/56
WE608 crashed in sea 30/1/56
WJ366 crashed HK, 22/12/58
WZ718 crashed in sea 9/7/57
WZ731 ?
XK376 spares 30/11/65
XN409 SOC 1/8/60

🙂

And here is another list with some options.

http://www.worldairforces.com/countries/hongkong/HKGaircraft.html

Thank you David, that was quick! Much appreciated

Does anyone have a contact for the new owner they could PM me with?

Any others?

Thanks again
Anthony

Auster AOP.9 XN408 (N408XN) was restored in Florida after import from HK . It has been sold to a new owner at Yakima in Washington State.