The Auster A.O.P. (“Air Observation Post”) is a British light observation and artillery spotter aircraft built by Auster Aircraft Limited as a successor to the wartime Auster Taylorcraft. Over 400 Mark VIs were built between 1946 and 1953. The Auster AOP Mk VI differed from its predecessors by having a more powerful engine, protruding rear flaps, longer undercarriage legs and increased fuel capacity. The primary roles of the aircraft were for artillery spotting along with liaison and light observation duties. It was easy to maintain and had the advantage of being able to use short, improvised landing strips. It was used for dropping supplies, photo reconnaissance and evacuating wounded personnel, and it could be equipped with skis for landing on snow. By 1954, Canada’s Austers were being replaced by the faster and more powerful Cessna L-19 Bird Dogs. All the Austers were sold to civilian interests by 1958.

The Museum’s Auster is one of 34 acquired by the RCAF in 1948 as training aircraft based at the Canadian Joint Training School, Rivers, Manitoba, located north of Brandon. Auster A.O.P. Mark VI (tail number 16670) was delivered to 11 Supply Depot in Calgary, Alberta, for assembly. It was transferred to Winnipeg, Manitoba, for further equipment installation, then was flown to RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba, for short-term storage. On July 20, 1951, it was ferried to RCAF Storage Depot in Carberry, Manitoba, where its engine was removed and it was placed in long-term storage. Its last log entry was October 3, 1955. It accumulated just 22 flight hours, most of which were test flights. The aircraft eventually was purchased by Dr. Peter Kelly, who registered it in June 1985. When owned by Dr. Kelly, this aircraft was exhibited at the Oshkosh Air Show and won first place in the class for Restored Vintage Warbird. Dr. Kelly donated his Auster to the Museum in 1991.