Bristol Beaufighter sad news.

[NutLoose]

If you want a Tempest 11, one nearly airworthy is up for sale, see

http://www.hawkertempest.se/MW763.htm

[Rakshasa]

Dinty/G-DINT, (the ex-Halton training bed) went to Oz for restoration about 12 months ago. Stephen Grey's project with TFC is on long term hold and the East Fortune static is still a jigsaw puzzle and likely will be for a few more decades.

All in all, the chances of a flying Beau lie with the three projects now in Oz/NZ.

[AtomKraft]

Best I could find.

Beaufighters attacking sea targets - - YouTube

Or maybe this?

COASTAL COMMAND STRIKES AT GERMAN CONVOY - British Pathé

[Brian Abraham]

Definitely not 205. Typo for 255?

Quite correct oxenos. My bad.

[AtomKraft]

Cracked it this time, although mainly Mossies.

You Tube

[Brian Abraham]

If you have an hour and a half to waste

Beaufighter - Whispering Death, The Forgotten Warhorse - YouTube

[STANDTO]

Fighting 255!

My next door neighbour's husband flew Beaufighters on 255. Sqn Leader Johnny Wright. I never met him - he had died before I moved, but enjoyed looking at many great photographs of his wartime squadrons. His widow, Mabel, better known as Teddy, is a remarkable person but beyond her best years now. I often wish I had had the patience to record her memories in some shape or form.

[Nige321]

Resurrecting an old thread.
TFC's Beaufighter has been stalled for years due to lack of engines.

There's news...
Beaufighter engines

=justifyWarbirds Online follows on from our previous news on the rebuild of Bristol Hercules engines by Peter Brooke at Historical Aircraft Engines in Brisbane Queensland for the Bristol Beaufighter project of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) and Robert Grienert’s Historical Aircraft Restorations Limited. The major decision has now been made as to the version of Hercules to be rebuilt, being the series XVII Bristol Hercules from later series Beaufighters.=justifySince our last visit to Historical Aircraft Engines there has been considerable progress and an audit and examination of the 16 tons of spare parts acquired last year from New Zealand has confirmed the viability of the rebuilding of the initial early series XVII Bristol Hercules required for the HARS project as well as two engines for a European project. There is also future capacity for the rebuild of other engines as well as care and maintenance support for the 4 being rebuilt now.

[Davef68]

Originally Posted by Nige321

Resurrecting an old thread.
TFC's Beaufighter has been stalled for years due to lack of engines.

There's news...
Beaufighter engines

Interesting - I'd been lead to understand that one reason for a lack of interest from TFC was that the owner wasn't able to hold an EASA/CAA multi-engined piston rating due to his age?

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Corporal Clott

Is one of the Beaufighter's mentioned above the ex-RAF Halton engine running demonstrator? Last known as G-DINT prior to shipment down-under?



Here she is with original engines and props...

Link only due to size http://forum.keypublishing.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=221015&d=1379608166

There was another metal fence (forming the airfield boundary) of similar construction to the one seen just behind the photographer, who is standing only a few yards from where I crash landed Sedburgh VX275 on 17 May 1967 in the field outside the airfield boundary.
I'm fairly sure the Beaufighter had gone by then as we pulled the metal rail fence out of the ground to create a gap to tow the glider back onto the airfield and if the Beau had still been there, we wouldn't have had room for this.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Davef68

Interesting - I'd been lead to understand that one reason for a lack of interest from TFC was that the owner wasn't able to hold an EASA/CAA multi-engined piston rating due to his age?

While this is true, and was why TFC sold the B-25, the F7 Tigercat and the Mosquito, its not really the reason for the lack of progress on the TFC, its the engine issue. TFC have tried (and came close to) selling the Beau as a project, and if the engine issue can be resolved, its likely that they will complete the Beau and then sell it as a flying aircraft, which will likely be easier than as a non-flying project.

[treadigraph]

I'd agree with GeeRam, getting it flying will provide a very marketable airframe, one we deserve to enjoy flying in the UK for a while, which could ultimately be sold to finance other projects as has always been the case with TFC. If the right money is offered... Ideally it will remain in the UK... but the bartering over the last 40 years has seen an incredible range of fighters over Duxford, many of which I never thought I'd see here.

[NutLoose]

Errrr. you seen this?

https://forum.keypublishing.com/foru...being-airborne

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

Errrr. you seen this?

https://forum.keypublishing.com/foru...being-airborne

Yes.

But, no response to any of that from PR and he's always been quite open about the Beau at TFC on the FP forum?

[Martin the Martian]

Originally Posted by treadigraph

I'd agree with GeeRam, getting it flying will provide a very marketable airframe, one we deserve to enjoy flying in the UK for a while, which could ultimately be sold to finance other projects as has always been the case with TFC. If the right money is offered... Ideally it will remain in the UK... but the bartering over the last 40 years has seen an incredible range of fighters over Duxford, many of which I never thought I'd see here.

'Over Duxford' is the appropriate term. It's been a few years since I've been there, and while strolling around the hangars during the D-Day event I realised just how few of the based aircraft I'd actually seen elsewhere. TFC might receive more support for their projects if their airworthy warbirds actually went a little further than the local circuit. Yes, I know it's down to airshow organisers to book them, but either they are very reluctant to (high costs?) or TFC are reluctant to take them around the country.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Martin the Martian

'Over Duxford' is the appropriate term. It's been a few years since I've been there, and while strolling around the hangars during the D-Day event I realised just how few of the based aircraft I'd actually seen elsewhere. TFC might receive more support for their projects if their airworthy warbirds actually went a little further than the local circuit. Yes, I know it's down to airshow organisers to book them, but either they are very reluctant to (high costs?) or TFC are reluctant to take them around the country.

TFC have their Friends of TFC group, so those that wish to support them have done so for 30 odd years or so. As you say, its down to what bookings they get from elsewhere (they probably get more bookings from European events than UK ones) and you also have to take into account how TFC have changed over the past 3 decades, as SG is not a young man now, and while son Nick flys all the fleet a lot, I'm not sure what will happen to TFC as an organisation when SG is no longer around to pay for it all? The fleet has been reduced quite a bit over the years, and there's certainly less 'projects' on the go compared to when SG was a younger man.

[treadigraph]

I've only done Duxford since 2016, but I've seen regularly TFC aircraft at other airfields over the years. Most recently I've seen the Bearcat, Hellcat, Gladiator and Corsair at Shoreham in 2014 and they may have been there in 2015. Current projects apart from the Beau include the Fiat CR.42 and three Sea Furies; they also have an occasional habit of unveiling surprise restorations from California, so who knows...?

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by treadigraph

Current projects apart from the Beau include the Fiat CR.42 and three Sea Furies; they also have an occasional habit of unveiling surprise restorations from California, so who knows...?

Only the 1 Sea Fury owned by TFC, not 3!
FB.11 VX653 has been been on very long term restoration since being acquired by TFC almost 30 years ago.
The only other project they have, again a very long term one, is Spitfire Mk22 PK624,which again has been with TFC for almost 25 years.
There's nothing currently in restoration in any shops in USA or elsewhere.

[treadigraph]

According to G-INFO, G-VZSF/VZ345 and G-SEAF/WG599 are also currently registered to Patina, TFC's holding company. Mind you, I've also seen WG599 listed with Kermit Weekes! I appreciate they may have been acquired as investments rather than with any intent for them to join the fleet at Duxford.

[Nomad2]

Great news about the engines, and must make the prospect of the next Beau' flight much more likely.