Auster Model L

[Bailey]

From "The Aeroplane Spotter, April 17, 1948"

Auster, other war time work...."The second was the Model L, being the first low-wing design by the company. Responsible for its development was Mr.A.L.Wykes, and again it owed much to the Auster, being little more than an Auster airframe with the wings mounted on the bottom of the fuselage. The prototype was almost completed but was abandoned after the death of Mr. A.L.Wykes in May 1944"

Specification is given as " 2/3 seat lightplane, 130 h.p. Lycoming O-290-3, Span 28.0 ft, Length 22 ft 5 ins."

Illustration attached.

Please can anyone confirm the above or provide anymore information.

 

[ursrius]

Auster Quarterly Volume 1, No.2 gives the Model L as a low wing project from 1945.

From ‘Austers – Nearly All You Wanted To Know’, by Preston & Ames: “With the end of the war in sight, in Europe at least, the Design Office at Taylorcraft began to think ahead to what the firm should produce for the post-war pilot and flying club. Initial moves were made by ‘A.L.’, before he was killed. The aircraft under discussion at that time was in one way a complete break with tradition as it was a low-winged aircraft, but in fact was a basic Auster airframe with the wings moved to locate on the bottom longeron and the lift struts attached to the top longeron. The fairings along the fuselage were greatly revised, and spats were to have been fitted. After the death of A.L., however, it was pushed into the background by urgent wartime commitments.”

Beagle News No.6 has a photograph of the Model L front end which shows that a prototype, or at least a mock-up, was built. From the look of the cowling, it appears that a Continental was the proposed powerplant similar to the J/2.
http://austerhg.org/beagle_mags/volume_6.pdf

Best I’ve got.

 

[ursrius]

Ignore my comment about the Continental! As you wrote, the Aerolane Spotter gives it as a Lycoming.

 

[Bailey]

Very many thanks for that information. ;D

Cheers Bailey.