Read the forum code of contact
By: 14th August 2019 at 12:03 Permalink
-Woohoo! Best of luck, would love to sea a Beau in the air!
Adrian
By: 14th August 2019 at 12:23 Permalink
-Fantastic news! I thought this project was long dead.
Perhaps Karl Kjarsgaard can help as he has a large stash of late Hercules engines intended for the Halifax III reconstruction.
Cees
By: 14th August 2019 at 12:41 Permalink
-Nothing in the National Archives, further search needed in Rolls Royce Heritage Trust, some detail in Australian War Memorial. Anybody with access to Farnborough?
We are looking for parts from early engines, pre 100 series as everything changes from this point. We have been in touch with Karl over the years.
By: 14th August 2019 at 12:49 Permalink
-Have you not been in touch with Peter Brook in Queensland?
http://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2019/06/10/beaufighter-engine-restoration-news/
By: 14th August 2019 at 12:49 Permalink
-Tried HARS in OZ I guess?
By: 14th August 2019 at 13:06 Permalink
-how about merlin's
By: 14th August 2019 at 13:18 Permalink
-In regular contact with Rob Greinert and Peter Brooks at HARS.
The possibility of fitting Merlins was examined in detail in the early days. Whatever path you followed there were major engineering challenges and we decided to go the classic Beaufighter route.
By: 14th August 2019 at 13:51 Permalink
-Please give me a reference/photo as search engine drew a blank
By: 14th August 2019 at 13:55 Permalink
-Bizarre, just tried another search and came up with 4 hits on AIT 132!
By: 14th August 2019 at 14:46 Permalink
-
The possibility of fitting Merlins was examined in detail in the early days. Whatever path you followed there were major engineering challenges and we decided to go the classic Beaufighter route.
I have a feeling that the longer cowling also made the Merlin-fitted Beaus dangerously susceptible to swing on take-off, so handling challenges as well. No doubt someone who DOES know will confirm/refute this.
Adrian
By: 14th August 2019 at 16:15 Permalink
-I know we have a Hercules carb on display somewhere!
By: 14th August 2019 at 17:07 Permalink - Edited 14th August 2019 at 17:08
-Oh, thats great news! Best of luck!
By: 14th August 2019 at 17:19 Permalink - Edited 14th August 2019 at 17:20
-I have a feeling that the longer cowling also made the Merlin-fitted Beaus dangerously susceptible to swing on take-off, so handling challenges as well.
Great news - but the Merlin route would definitely have been a dangerous idea quite apart from headaches with re-engineering and certification. The Beaufighter II was highly unpopular with its wartime crews. It was viewed as a deathtrap if it lost an engine at low speed as the aircraft would instantly drop a wing violently and the only way to regain control was to cut the live engine so such an event was usually fatal in the landing pattern. The problems sound similar to the Meteor phantom dive and the Pilot’s Notes said the aircraft must never be flown single engine with the flaps down.
By: 14th August 2019 at 18:19 Permalink
-TIme to put an article in Flypast, and Classicwings? You never know what will turn up.
By: 14th August 2019 at 19:15 Permalink
-I do so want to see a Beaufighter fly. My Dad was 'missing in action' (later presumed dead) in 1942 in a Beau, shot down near Malta. Despite much research, no trace has ever been found. He was a newly promoted acting Wing Commander, apparently on his way to an airfield called Kilo 7, near the Egypt/Libya border. There I believe he was to take over 46 Sqn, and convert it from Hurricanes to be the first Beaufighter squadron in the North African war. I wish every success to SG, Beaufighter VI and all their merry men and women.
SM
Posts: 554
By: Beaufighter VI - 14th August 2019 at 10:54
Maybe visitors to TFC hangar will have noted a little activity around the Beaufighter? We are in the midst of solving the engine installation issues, can you help?
We are looking for the following component Air Publications to help with their overhaul.
Magneto's, Simms F.S.T.14S Mk. iii & v, Rotax N.S.T. 14/1 & N.14A, BTH C.2. SE14-S/1 and C.14.A. (AP1374)
Carb. Hobson A.I.T. 132.MF (AP2657)
Whilst we have the Parts Manual for the Hercules III, X and XI would welcome Parts Manuals for the later engines as they also cover the A.I.T. 132 carb.