About ‘JT’

JT is operated by a syndicate that has had many members over the years. The current membership stands at four pilots, who fly JT to varying degrees mostly around Scotland, although two of the longer standing members did take her all the way to, and around, France and back! JT is, therefore, no ‘Concours D’Elegance’ prize contender, but neither is she a hangar Queen and most importantly, she is still doing now what she was built to do back in 1946; something, I think, those who built her would be proud of. Here’s a little history:

The following is taken from the Pilot Notes for ‘JT’.

The Auster MK 5 series J/4 registration G-AIJT, constructors number 2075 was built by the Auster Aircraft Company.  It first flew with a Blackburn Cirrus Minor Series 1 engine on 20th December 1946.

The aeroplane was grounded from September 1949 to March 1954, when after C of A renewal it was flown regularly until February 1955.  The C of A was renewed and in March 1955 it was taken over by the RCAF and used by the Canuck Flying Club in France until September 1959.  By this time the total time on the aeroplane was 556 hours.  The C of A was renewed in August 1960 and it was flown in Norfolk regularly as a club aircraft. The original engine was replaced in September 1962 at 797 hours.

During this period it was maintained under the Royal Aero Club Maintenance Schedule R. Ae. C. 3 (Issue 2).  A Murphy TR41A radio was fitted at Biggin Hill in April 1966 and the aeroplane sold to the Merlin Flying Club at Hucknall in January 1967 at 1079 airframe hours.

The next C of A took 11 months, from February 1967 until January 1968 and involved a complete recover of the entire structure.  However, by August 1968 the aeroplane was withdrawn from service at 1246 airframe hours due to low engine oil pressure and metal in the filters.  12 to 14 psi was recorded in climb at 2150 rpm.

The conversion to 5/J4-100, with an 0-200A Rolls Royce Continental engine was complete by March 1970.  During the enforced lay-up the mainplanes were removed and fitted to G-AIPH.  The mainplanes ex-G-AIPH were stripped, overhauled, recovered and fitted to G-AIJT.

JT flew intensively as a club aeroplane reaching 2085 airframe hours by December 1971 when it was overturned whilst taxying in gusty conditions.  Repair work was combined with the two yearly inspection for renewal of the C of A and was completed in May 1972.

The next C of A, at 2968 airframe hours in April 1974 took four months, the first engine was replaced in May 1975 at 3338 airframe hours.  At 3860 airframe hours the Murphy VHF was removed and a Narco Com 11A fitted, the C of A in August 1976 ay 3907 airframe hours took 4 months.

The aeroplane flew regularly with the Merline Flying Club until being sold to the Aberdeen Flying Group in March 1978 at 4206  airframe hours.

In December 1978 at 4299 airframe hours the aeroplane underwent a lengthy C of A renewal which was not completed until March 1980 due to poor organisation by group members.  In July 1981 ownership passed to the Aberdeen Auster Flying Group.

Twelve months later, in July 1982 a major failure occurred whilst starting the engine.  Having replaced the engine with a completely overhauled unit the aeroplane was put through its C of A in March to July 1983.  After an active year the starter pinion gear disintegrated in the new engine resulting in removal, complete strip down and rebuild of the engine during October 1984.

The aeroplane was dismantled in April 1985 when the fuselage, rudder, tailplanes, elevators and undercarriage were shipped down and re-covered.  General condition was good, a minor cracked weld in the sternpost was repaired.  JT was flown for 40 hours in September/October 1985 before being hangared at Perth for the winter.

On its return to Aboyne in April 1986 it was dismantled and mainplanes and ailerons recovered in Ceconite 102 with butyrate dope.  With a certificate of Fitness for flight issued on 13 September it was flown to Glenrothes for C of A renewal by J.E. Heywood Ltd.  This was completed and the aeroplane test flown and released to service on 8th October 1986.

It continued to fly extensively as an active  group aircraft in Scotland from this point, almost un-interrupted until July 2004, when it suffered damage to its port undercarriage, right wing and prop, following a forced landing due to engine failure. The engine failure was related to Carburettor icing resulting from a worn carb’ heat detent at the butterfly valve spindle.

The undercarriage leg was replaced, the right wing repaired and re-sprayed (the whole airframe had been re-painted in approx 2001) and the engine overhauled. A new McAuley metal prop was also fitted. The aircraft was transferred from its Private Category CofA to an LAA Permit to Fly in 2009.

It now resides mostly at a little known grass strip north of Aberdeen where it continues to provide service and pleasure to those that are fortunate enough to fly her.