Australian Beaufort photos - the latest !!!

[setter]

Hi all

I have a new webshots account now so I have been posting more Pics - Here are some more taken Thursday of the Beaufort restoration of Ralph Cusack at Hendra in Brisbane. Good progress is being made and it will fly "when it is finished"

http://community.webshots.com/user/setter126007

My other Webshots account has other pics(3000) from lots of other Warbird adventures etc

http://community.webshots.com/user/setter125

Enjoy these



Thanks guys

Regards
John Parker

[bdk]

Huh? Are those gear doors fabric covered??? How odd!

[setter]

Hi BDK

No they aren't fabric covered - just waiting to be skinned

Regards John p

[Glyn]

Unbelieveable restoration Setter, thanks as always for taking pics!

[AndyG]

Thanks for that Setter.

Any chance of a run down for us all on the differences between the UK and Castlemain XXXX built versions of the Beaufort.

I understand that the spars are being repaired rather than replaced? Nothing wrong with that in my book BTW.

If so, is this because of the similar difficulty the ARCO Blenheim had in sourcing the correct spring steel flange material?

[setter]

Hi Andy



The spars used were from another aircraft and were replaced due to damage. It was preferable than the cost and difficulty of manufacturing a new one however this would have been done if a replacement had not been obtained. The repair was fully sanctioned by the Australian authorities and was not an issue.

I am no expert on the differences but I will research what I believe are the differences and post on these soon

Regards
John P

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

John,

Impressive work. Now, I am no expert on the "Beau" series of aircraft....but didn't I hear of one or two projects in the works to make one airworthy and is this one of those projects. I had hear that there was a Beaufighter or two in the works as well...adding a Beaufort would be all that more special...thank you kindly for posting the photo's.

Paul

[T J Johansen]

Nice photos Setter! A Beaufort will be a great addition to the list of airworthy warbirds. Looks like a trip to Oz is a must in the near future. You guys are really building a formidable Air Force of historic A/C down there.

T J

[setter]

Paul

There is a "restored Beaufort " at Hendon really pretty much a shell, A nicely restored one at the AWM in Canberra - sadly and strangely in storage. There is an unrestored hulk at the Army Museum at Oakey in Queensland plus a couple of projects in the wind I can't talk about yet. As regards
Beaufighters - The Duxford one , The kit for sale at Skysport , The Canadian Ottowa / Rockliffe hulk and the HARS one as well as the one under construction at East Fortune are the substantial unrestored ones i know of. There is one on display at Hendon, One in Moorabing Australia , one at Camdem Aus, one at the USAFM , plus a rumor of another Portugese one around somewhere.

There are still a few bits to be found I think but that would just about be the world population .

TJ

The Government doesn't do much for the Air Force so we have to improvise.

Seriously there are about 200+ restorations happening here at present - things are booming at the moment !!

Regards
john p