Big howdy from NW Arkansas, USA

[Papa]

Auster and then later the much revered Tiger Moth. Just something about a bi plane and wind in the face that appealled

We own a Stearman and a Tayorcraft. Well, the Taylorcraft is Dad's.
Have a picture somewhere...

[jerryc]

Papa,

Have a vague suspicion that the Auster was orginally based on the Tayylorcraft, but I could be wrong. The Auster was used in WW2 as an aerial observation post. Engine was a Gipsy Major and starting was by winding the big wooden prop. It had the reputation of being one of the most difficult planes to land. Had to be three pointed and had a stall speed of 26 knots. One bounce and you were airborne again. You couldn't ride out the bounce. Another thing about such a slow stall speed was it was the only aeroplane that could be flown backwards. Just nose into a wind of about 30 knots and back you went. Both aeroplanes taught real seat of the pants flying.

Just love the two you have now and am jealous. The Tiger had an inline inverted four cylinder engine and with a cruise speed of nineteen hundred revs, had a very characteristic sound. Would just love to be behind the Stearman's radial. Incidently the Tiger has no brakes and just a tail skid, so you fly it even on the ground. How does the Stearman measure?

Jerry