Auster 6A Tugmaster
Auster · United Kingdom · first flew 1960 · light aircraft
The Auster 6A Tugmaster was a British high-wing glider tug converted from surplus military Auster AOP.6 aircraft. It was powered by a de Havilland Gipsy Major 10.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.24 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing braced monoplane
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage
- Larger tail surfaces than the military AOP.6 it was converted from
Look for a classic high-wing Auster with a braced wing, a fixed tailwheel and enlarged tail surfaces, usually seen with a tow hook at a gliding club.
Specifications
- The Auster 6A Tugmaster has a length of 7.24 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 195 km/h (121 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
After the Auster AOP.9 entered Army service in 1959, Auster bought 104 surplus AOP.6 and T.7 aircraft. The first conversion, G-25-9, flew on 5 July 1960 at Lasham with an electrically driven winch.
Variants
29 airframes were initially converted for glider towing, and about 50 others became three-seat touring aircraft as the Auster 6B, later the Beagle A.61 Terrier. Some Royal Canadian Air Force AOP.6s were also converted in Canada.
Where you'll see it
Twenty-one were converted by Auster at Rearsby with a conventional towing hook, and Tugmasters were exported to Finland, Norway and Sweden. Several were still in service with UK gliding clubs in 2014.
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- Auster Agricola
- Auster J/5 Autocar
- Auster Avis
- Aero Commander 100
- Antonov A-15
- Auster D.4
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