The Auster AOP was developed in England, with manufacturer Taylorcraft. It is a two-seat (side-by-side) lightaircraft, developed to meet Army requirements for an Air Observation Post (AOP). In the USA in the late 1930s, the Taylorcraft company enjoyed considerable success with its Models B, C, and D lightaircrafts, which were built for private use. They were so successful that the designs were licensed for constuction in England by the British Taylorcraft Company. Initial contracts placed 1941 for 101 Taylorcraft Auster Mk Is and subsequent contracts for later marks kept the type in production throughout the war, as below; Mks 7 to 9 appeared post-war. Used by at least 19 AOP squadrons, and other Army formations.
Taylorcraft Auster AOP Mk I: Similar to Taylorcraft Plus D, with 90 hp Blackburn Cirrus Minor I with 101 built.
Taylorcraft Auster AOP Mk III: Improved AOP with 130 hp DH Gipsy Major I engine. Fitted with wing flaps. Deliveries began early 1943 and total of 470 built.
Auster AOP .mk III of KLu Historische Vlucht (Royal Netherlands Air Force / Koninklijke Luchtmacht) 
This aircraft type was operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) in the fifties and sixties. So was this aircraft with ser.no 6111 flies with now civil registration PH-NGK. It is now flying with the Royal Netherlands Air Force Historical Flight Foundation (Stichting Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht) and operates from Gilze-Rijen Air Base, Netherlands with former KLu code R-18.
Photographed August 2010 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Taylorcraft J / Auster 5
This aircraft is an Auster V with C/N 1790 with Lycoming O-290-3 engine. Registration D-ELYD.
Photographed summer 2013 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
this article was first published January 2012; note that all photo's are strictly copyright by their contributors and may not be published elsewhere without prior written permission.