››Auster Autocar restoration.

This restoration started a long time ago.

After many years of flying G-AGVN an Auster Autocrat and having a lot of fun something more powerful and with the capacity of longer and quicker trips was required.

Why not an Autocar, fit a 180 Lycoming and it would be a wonderful machine said Ron Neal friend and Auster expert.

Soon I was the proud owner of what was a very dismantled and sad looking Autocar.

Still young and full of confidence the work started. Ron supplied the front of an Airedale, which is the same as a D6/Husky, and this was carefully cut and prepared, as was the Autocar fuselage and the two mated together. At the same time a new fin was fitted to handle the extra power. All this was beautifully welded together by the late Ray Mattock. It was a joy to watch this master welder at work.

It was decided to fit a Husky instrument panel and sliding seats these mods also requiring the services of Ray.

The fuselage was now looking like it should and all the welding had been completed so it was transported to Knaptoft farm who had a wonderful system of bead blasting contained in a barn. The blasting and painting was completed in sequence to ensure a lasting protection. Now the fuselage looked great.

In the meantime an Airedale for sale had been located. This aircraft had been kept in a field. Any thoughts of flying it out were quickly dispelled after seeing it. It was in a poor state and the flying surfaces were full of water. The engine was run and temps and pressures were OK so a deal was made and now I was also a (not so proud) owner of an Airedale. With the help of my wife Susan and friends Ann and Richard this aircraft was dismantled and transported back home. At the Dartford tunnel there was some confusion as they did not know what to charge for an Aircraft! The engine and mount, propeller, instruments, Brakes, wheels and seats were taken from the Airedale, what was left was donated to Cliff Baker.

Work continued, the instrument panel was made, the seats were modified to be adjustable, this was not so easy and a lot of work was required to get these right which included making the retaining catches for the folding rear of the seats. Good friend David Knowles made these catches. Floorboards were made and fitted. Here again improvements included bungee covers and protections.

About this time I was transferred by the company I was working for to Switzerland. No problem. Again with the help of David a purpose built trailer was built and the whole lot was towed to the French part of Switzerland where the company was based.

The fuselage was left tucked up in a nice dry barn and worked commenced on one of the wings. This was done in the enormous covered veranda where we were now living. A new spar was fitted. Ribs were replaced and repaired.

The ailerons had new spars fitted and all bent or broken ribs repaired or replaced.

Now disaster struck, the company was in difficulty (not my fault) and to cut a long story short I found myself having to move to Italy. Thank goodness for the trailer. The trip further south took us through the Alps; this must be the only Auster that has passed the Alps through the Gotthard tunnel

I had not reckoned on the Italian bureaucracy, this caused me a lot of grief. I thought that I had all the right paper work but I think that the customs men made up the rules as they went along. Eventually I was able to enter Italy with the aircraft on the trailer with the trailer on the back of a low loader!! I have never been able to understand how they managed to interpret the rules.

Now it was more difficult to work on the aircraft and the fuselage and wings were put in store and what I could do with the limited facilities went ahead. Flaps were re skinned where required and new torque tubes fitted. The other wing which was in a very bad condition was removed from storage and dismantled. The various parts were repaired and or replaced.

The cowlings have been taken from a Piper Cherokee. These too needed a lot of modification. The firewall too was removed from the same Cherokee and adapted to fit the Auster. This was done by fitting a stainless steel sheet into the middle of the surround of the Cherokee firewall.

Now came another move!! Back into Switzerland This time to the Italian southern part. Fortunately the return to Swiss territory went smoothly.

Now I had better facilities, a heated spacious workshop.

At this time the 2 wings were fitted with new leading edges and aileron shrouds.

The woodwork was in need of attention and most of it has been replaced. The side stringers were modified to make a nice curve into the slightly wider firewall.

The metal work behind the firewall to the cabin was made and fitted, all the Perspex (new) was fitted. The doors were also adapted to suit the curve of the fuselage.

The cowlings were adjusted and the metal fittings encapsulated in the right place. I have to admit that it does look rather slick with these cowlings.

Much time has been spent in making such things as engine baffles, oil cooler inlets, cable covers and all those little things that take a lot of time for what they are.

At this moment in time almost all the parts are ready for fitting, the fuselage is ready for cover. The engine which has been inhibited internally requires a overhaul as does the propeller.

What I don’t have is the time required to get on with it!!

This aircraft just has to be finished so if there is anybody out there who would like to carry on this project please get in touch in touch.