Active Beaufighter rebuilds

Kaigun Fan · **Joined:** Fri Nov 26, 2004 10:20 am **Posts:** 174

Hello,

Does anyone have the current status of the Fighter Collection's Beaufighter rebuild? Is it still being worked on? Are there any other active Beaufighter rebuilds, for example, in the UK?

Thanks,

Ron

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:10 pm

USAF Museum in Dayton is working on a static rebuild of an ex-RAAF plane.

Jim

setter · **Posted:** Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:09 pm

Hi

1 at Duxford - active restoration - being worked on as we speak
1 at Skysport or whatever it's called now UK not active?
1 at moorabin in Vic Australia on Display static
1 at Ottowa Canada - derelict - a disgrace - left in the open 20 years
1 at East Fortune Scotland awaiting restoration to static Plus a loaned fuselage section from the RAFM which may now be at Cosford
1 at USAFM being restored - static
1 at Camden NSW largely complete - static
1 at HARS NSW australia long term flying restoration
1 at Hendon Static
1 at RAAF Point Cook - kit set of parts ? awaiting restoration to static
1 perhaps or parts with the AWM Canberra

Plus parts around Australia in various collections
Only the Duxford, Skysport and HARS aircraft are likely to fly but I feel ther may be scope to get another one flying in time if enough parts and an interested party can be found.

Regards
John P

Steve T · **Posted:** Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:49 pm

Hi John...

Oh no, you just had to go and mention RD867...a Steve T hot-button topic! :shock:

20 years in the open? (wince)...Try 34 years. The Beau arrived in 1969 and hasn't been in a hangar since. However, she is finally to go indoors when the CAvM's new storage hangar is complete (and it was more than halfway there when I saw it in July, so must be close). As to her being restored...I can't see that beginning any time soon, but would love to be proven wrong. (I know Mike H in Ottawa has "agitated" for the Beau to go onto PNS' "list"...so one may hope!)

Cheers

S.

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:48 am

Steve T wrote:

The Beau arrived in 1969 and hasn't been in a hangar since. However, she is finally to go indoors when the CAvM's new storage hangar is complete (and it was more than halfway there when I saw it in July, so must be close). As to her being restored...I can't see that beginning any time soon, but would love to be proven wrong. (I know Mike H in Ottawa has "agitated" for the Beau to go onto PNS' "list"...so one may hope!)

The last I heard (about a week ago) was that the official commissioning/completion date would be December 25th. Yeah your read that right. Can you tell this is a government operation?

Anyway... It was supposed to be early in the fall, but due to a few delays the new storage hanger will be opening soon. Unfortunately everything is under a thick layer of white stuff around here. It is entirely possible that none of the aircraft will see the inside of the hanger until spring. I am staying on top of these things as I would like to be there for aircraft movements.

As for the Beau... it is not at the top of the list of things to do. I only have observer status at the Board of Directors meetings, but when every I get a chance I to bring up the subject about how great it would be to do something with the Beau. Look at it this way... WIX has someone on the inside! :wink:

Mike

Kaigun Fan · **Joined:** Fri Nov 26, 2004 10:20 am **Posts:** 174

Thanks for the updates everyone. As for the TFC Beaufighter, any idea on what work was done lately? Their website is never updated and I haven't heard any recent news via magazines, etc.

Thanks,

Ron

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:31 am

Kaigun Fan wrote:

Thanks for the updates everyone. As for the TFC Beaufighter, any idea on what work was done lately? Their website is never updated and I haven't heard any recent news via magazines, etc.

Thanks,

Ron

I don't have any news, but I did get a picture of it on 10 June 2004. Thanks to image shack it is attached below.

Mike

[/img]

setter · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:44 am

Hi Mike and Ron

I had chat and a real good look at the TFC one in October. Work is going on all the time. I think they have decided what to do about the engine /prop issue so progress will now be a little swifter but if you look around the hanger there is so much else happening with the P51C, Glad , Sea Fury etc then don't expect miricles - it will still be a while yet- I think the Brisbane Beaufort will probably beat it into the air.

Regards
John P

mexchiwa · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 8:30 pm **Posts:** 112

Anyone have pics of the USAFM Beau? (Think I might have asked about this before, maybe, if I could only remember....)

Steve T · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2004 4:05 pm

USAFM Beau pix? Yep, took quite a few when I was there in June and toured the restoration hangars. Looked really good. I'm told she's an ex-RAAF Mk.I. Unfortunately I've no way of posting pix, but PM me and I can easily snailmail you some...have loads of spares.

S.

setter · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:00 pm

Hi

Yes she was rebuilt in large part by HARS in Sydney and part of a substantial and complex swap arrangement for various HARS aircraft . Rob Grienert willl know all the details but suffice to say it originally came from Moorabin Air Museum and was I think Australias last "Flat tail: Beau.

Regards
John P

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