On display at RAF Museum Cosford. This Auster was built in 1951. It served with No. 633 AOP the same year, after which it served with No. 1964 AOP Flight in 1953. In 1955 the Auster went back to the factory for Antarctic conversion. Flown by S/L J.H. Lewis and Flt Lt. G.M. Haslop, it was used for recce during 1956-57 for the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (CTAE) led by Dr. Vivian Fuchs. A specially blended fuel was supplied by BP to avoid icing in the extreme cold conditions. Floats and skis were interchangeable on the Auster.

Used on Antarctic expeditions in the 1950s. Now preserved at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Used for a Trans-Antarctic expedition in 1956/57, and stored at St Athan as 7602M from 10 June 1958 in the orange high-visibility scheme worn for the expedition. It travelled around various RAF stations after being moved to Colerne in 1964, returning to St Athan in May 1979. It was moved to RAF Museum Cosford in February 1989 for display.

NZ1707 in an international orange livery ahead of its use in Antarctica. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

Crashed into Kaipara Harbour on August 22, 1966. Wreckage to MOTAT in Auckland and then to RNZAF museum where has been restored and displayed. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Used for an arctic expedition in the fifties. Now in the RAF Museum Cosford.

Photo taken at RAF Museum in Cosford

Dwarfed by Concolidated Catalina PBY-6A behind. Seen at RAF Cosford Aerospace Museum

In 1955 Auster modified two T.7s, (along with WE563) for use in the Commonwealth Trans-Antartic Expedition, to be known as the Auster Antartic. Alterations included better radio equipment, a larger tail surface, use of floats or skis as required and a bright-orange high-vis scheme. After returning from the expedition this airframe was allocated the non-flying serial 7602M and was delegated to display status paving the way for her eventual arrival at Cosford during 1989.

The second generation of Austers for the British Army were the AOP.6, and the T.7 trainer. Two T.7s were modified for use by the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1955, and designated Auster C4 Antarctic by the manufacturer.

Operated by the British Antarctic Survey and now preserved in the RAF Museum, Cosford Collection