Auster Agricola

Infobox Aircraft
infoboxwidth=17
name=Auster B8 Agricola


caption=
type=Agricultural aircraft
manufacturer=Auster
designer=
first flight=1955
introduced=
retired=
status=1 model survives
primary user=
more users=
produced=
number built=9
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=The Auster B8 Agricola was a commercially unsuccessful British agricultural aircraft designed for the aerial topdressing market which opened up in New Zealand in the early 1950s.

Design

Constructed of fabric over corrosion proofed steel frame the design featured a large high lift low set monoplane wing, external control cables, fixed tail wheel undercarriage and a somewhat angular fuselage, with an aft cabin that could seat two passengers, a hopper over the centre of the wing which could hold 750 kg of superphosphate in the topdressing role, or 654 litres of spray as a crop duster. The pilot sat forward of the hopper over the wing leading edge, a position which gave a good field of view compared with the American practise of placing the pilot behind the hopper, though this view was somewhat restricted by the extensive canopy joinery and bulky rear decking. The Agricola's handling was generally described favourably, particularly it's slow speed performance and controls, while its rugged and simple construction allowed for easy maintenance and repair. The aircraft was utilitarian rather than attractive; one web site has short-listed the Agricola in a competition for the ugliest aircraft of all timeFact|date=March 2007. The type was first flown in 1955. It was out competed in its target market by the PAC Fletcher and attempts to sell the type for Aerial application work in Britain, Australia and Europe met with little success. Only 9 were made before production ceased. Of these "ZK-BXO", is the sole survivor. Restored by John Stephenson of Whitianga, it was operated for many years by him as both historic aircraft and personal transport. BXO was sold to the UK in 2005.

pecifications (Auster Agricola)

aircraft specifications
jet or prop?=prop
plane or copter?=plane
ref=
crew=1
payload main=
** 750 kg
payload alt=1,700 lb) superphosphate "or"
** 654 L (173 US gal
payload more=sorat
length main=8.60 m
length alt=28 ft 3 in
span main=12.80 m
span alt=42 ft
height main=
height alt=
area main=
area alt=
empty weight main=1,017 kg
empty weight alt=2,242 lb
loaded weight main=1,909 kg
loaded weight alt=4,209 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=

engine (prop)=Continental
type of prop= flat 6
number of props=1
power main=260 hp
power alt=190 kW
max speed main=258 km/h
max speed alt=140 knots, 160 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=325 km
range alt=175 nm, 200 mph
ceiling main=15,000 ft
ceiling alt=4,600 m
climb rate main=3.88 m/s
climb rate alt=764 ft/min
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=100 W/kg
power/mass alt=0.62 hp/lb

References

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ee also

aircontent

sequence=
see also=
*Crop dusting
*Aerial topdressing