AUSTER ANTARCTIC

The postwar Auster AOP (Air Observation Post) series was derived from the early British Taylorcraft models. They were improved variants, featuring several design changes which optimized their military roles. The 145-hp Gypsy Major VII-powered AOP Mk 6 appeared in 1946, with larger fuel tanks, longer landing gear legs, and large trailing-edge flaps. From 1946 to 1953, the RAF took delivery of 312 AOP 6s and used them primarily for target spotting. Their short field take-off and landing capabilities gave them great versatility in this role. The AOP 6 saw combat in Korea and Malaya during the 1950’s, conflicts which led to the development of the AOP Mk 9, the only variant built specifically for military use. The Mk 9, with a 160-hp Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier engine and a bigger wing, appeared in 1955 and remained in service into the late 1960s.

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