DISCONTINUED AZ-Model 7523 Auster AOP Mk.III/K-61

The Taylorcraft Auster AOP was a British WWII observation and liaison aircraft in a mixed high-wing design. Drive - Mk. III - provided a single engine de Havilland Gipsy Major I. with a power of 130 hp. The flight of the prototype took place in 1939, and the serial production was carried out in 1940-1946.

Taylorcraft Auster initially served as a light, civilian passenger plane, but due to the accession of Great Britain to World War II, the machine was adapted to the needs of the army at the beginning of 1940 and its designation AOP was added. Several variants of this machine were created in the course of serial production. The first production version was the Mark I (AOP.1), but later the Mk. II (only two were built) and the Mk. III (AOP.3 or AOP.III) with a new power unit. In 1943, the Mk. IV (AOP.4 or AOP.IV) with light passenger cabin armor and a new Lycoming engine. The last version turned out to be Mk. V (AOP.5 or AOP.V), which had more extensive avionics. Initially, machines of this type served as liaison and communication aircraft, but from 1941 they were also used as artillery observation aircraft. Taylorcraft Auster AOPs fought in North Africa in 1941-1943, in the Italian campaign in 1943-1945, and in France and western Germany in 1944-1945. Their last copies were withdrawn from the RAF only in 1957.