Engineering:Auster Alpine

Short description: 1950s British light aircraft

J/5 Alpine
Auster J/5R Alpine at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield in June 1996
Role	Trainer/tourer
Manufacturer	Auster Aircraft Limited
Number built	10
Developed from	Auster J/5 Aiglet Trainer

The Auster J/5 Alpine was a 1950s United Kingdom single-engined four-seat high-wing training and touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby, Leicestershire.

History

The Alpine was a hybrid aircraft based on the fuselage of the J/5 Aiglet Trainer fitted with the wings from the J-1 Autocrat. The prototype was converted from an Auster J-5L Aiglet Trainer.

Variants

Auster J/5Q Alpine at PFA Rally at Cranfield airfield, Bedfordshire, in July 1989

• Auster J/5R Alpine – production version with de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 engine, six built.
• Auster J/5Q Alpine – lower-powered version with a de Havilland Gipsy Major 1 engine, four built.

Specifications (J/5R)

Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 2 passengers
• Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
• Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
• Wing area: 185 sq ft (17.2 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,464 lb (664 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,250 lb (1,021 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 32 imp gal (38 US gal; 150 L)
• Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 four-cylinder air-cooled inverted piston engine, 145 hp (108 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 128 mph (206 km/h, 111 kn)
• Cruise speed: 112 mph (180 km/h, 97 kn)
• Range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,700 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,025 ft/min (5.21 m/s)
• Takeoff distance to 50 ft (15 m): 630 ft (190 m)

References

• Bridgman, Leonard (1956). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–57. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. 
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
• Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.