Auster 6A Tugmaster
Military Aircraft

The Auster 6A Tugmaster was a glider tug conversion of the Auster AOP.6 military observation aircraft introduced in late 1969, the British Army had replaced it's Auster AOP.6 aircraft with the new Auster AOP.9 and sold Auster all their now surplus AOP.6 aircraft. A total of 59 aircraft were converted into Auster 6A Tugmaster glider tugs but were not very successful partially due to their relatively low powered engine.

Auster 6A Tugmaster Specifications:

• Crew: Pilot (and up to two passengers)
• Length: 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
• Height: 8 ft 4 in (2.55 m)
• Empty weight: 1,480 lb (671 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
• Engine: Single 145 hp (108 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 inline piston engine
• Maximum speed: 121 mph; 105 kn (195 km/h)
• Cruising speed: 105 mph; 91 kn (169 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,267 m)
• Rate of climb: 810 ft/min (4.1 m/s)