1947 Auster AOP 6 VF516 (Beagle Terrier 2) G-ASMZ Military Aircraft (SOLD)

Description

History
As an AOP 6, this aircraft flew operationally in Korea & is well-documented in many books, especially the famous shot of the American Special Forces soldier jumping from this aircraft on operations in Korea. Due to its incredible history & many of the original military AOP 6 parts remaining, we had the aircraft painted in her original military colours she would have worn in combat during the 1950s – Now for sale as a very nicely ‘well-loved’ & restored aircraft capable of doing introductory flights on its Type Responsibility agreement (TRA) s required.

Restoration
Rebuilt by BBMF Engineers in the 1990s, she went through various owners until purchased by myself in January 2022. She needed to be brought back to life, so she was sent to the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARC) at Duxford & went through a thorough significant strip down & into heavy maintenance. Much love & attention was given to the airframe, instruments, & engine! Over £15000 worth of receipts to date, as many parts were replaced, & the aircraft was brought back up to a high airworthiness standard.

New Parts
Replacement CHT gauge, Oil temperature & pressure combination gauge with new braided hoses. Undercarriage bungees, brake linings, horizontal stabiliser bushings, Brunton’s streamline tail-bracing wires, trim cables, tailwheel pivot block, wing attachment hardware, all rubber fuel hoses, fuel tanks refurbishment, battery housing & battery. The Top panel was re-English wheeled out of the correct aluminium along with a NOS aluminium nose bowl & newly expertly made aluminium side panels, all expertly patch drilled, painted, & fitted by ARC. While the aircraft was hangered at Eshott, the original HOFFMANN HO21 208B 108L propeller was damaged, & a brand-new Hercules 7859280-ST 78” x 59” propeller was procured & fitted to the LAA modification 16163. Fuel tanks were removed, cleaned, welded, & pressure tested. The oil tank was removed & welded, & the Gipsy Major 10 engine was compression tested & set up correctly to specification. Re-rigged aileron & elevator system, repositioned headset sockets on both sides & re-wired, fuel gauges stripped, cleaned & reassembled.

Type Responsibility Agreement (TRA)
This aircraft has a TRA so that it can be used for introductory flights – LAA aircraft may be used for these flights provided that the aircraft is either ‘Type Approved’ or a type formerly holding a UK Certificate of Airworthiness, in respect of which, there is a ‘Type Responsibility Agreement’ (TRA) with the CAA & the operator of the aircraft has an arrangement with the TRA holder for these operations. Our interest in holding this TRA is To support & promote the operation of historic aeroplanes, enable Light Aircraft Association Permit to Fly aircraft to operate under new Remunerated Use rules & facilitate those who wish to continue operation on a Certificate of Airworthiness.

Notes
TAH: 3381 at 12-Jul-2023 (increasing as in use)
TTE: 120 hrs Gipsy Major 10-2 since complete overhaul (increasing as in use)
LAA Permit to Fly: 11-Jul-2024
Royal Air Force Exemption
Ceconite 102 covering
Trig TT31 transponder & TY96 radio
Dynon D3 portable EFIS
This is the actual Auster VF516 – G-ASMZ

Another unusual exercise was carried out by the 1913 Flight on 18 March 1954, which involved US Special Forces parachuting from the Austers over the Han River, north of Seoul. Both 1903 & 1913 Flights returned to the UK early in 1955. March 18 1954, a member of US Special Forces practices before his parachute drop from Auster VF516. The pilot is 1913 Flight’s ‘Red’ Meaton.