"Canadian" Beaufighter T.F.X RD867 restoration under way?

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By: jbs - 26th April 2012 at 22:43

Mk. IF: X7688, a stored restoration project in Bedfordshire

Isn’t this one now with HARS?

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By: Rocketeer - 26th April 2012 at 22:32

so pleased its being restored!

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By: Tin Triangle - 26th April 2012 at 21:31

Yes, Mk. IF A9-43 in USAAF colours. There is also another Mk. IF:
X7688, a stored restoration project in Bedfordshire (I believe this is only a part airframe having been used as a test rig at Halton?)

Mk. 21s:
A8-186 (Camden Museum of Aviation, Australia),
A8-328 (Moorabbin Aviation Museum, Australia)
Composite- parts of A19-148, A19-144, A8-324 a project (stalled?) with HARS, Australia

With the composite on stalled rebuild at Duxford, RD253 at Hendon, RD867 in Canada, RD220 (on stalled(?) rebuild) at East Fortune, I make that 9.

Great to see this one getting some very overdue love and attention. With the number of stalled rebuilds around the world, it will be great to see one more complete Beaufighter in the future. Let’s hope they find their Hercules!

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By: Mike J - 26th April 2012 at 21:30

There’s one at Dayton (NMUSAF) plus another at Moorabbin in Australia, and a restoration project underway with HARS in Australia.

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By: SADSACK - 26th April 2012 at 21:17

re;

i am only aware of the ones at Hendon, Duxford, Canada and East Fortune – where are the other ones? is there one in the USAFM?

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By: Roborough - 26th April 2012 at 20:10

According to the Flypast’s “Beaufighter” publication (I’ve just bought it) there is a total of 9 more or less complete airframes. Of these 4 originated in Australia, 2 Brit built and 2 Ausie built.

Bill

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By: SADSACK - 26th April 2012 at 17:34

re;

how many Beaufighters survive in total?

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By: Trak-Tor - 26th April 2012 at 17:06

Thanks a lot for clearing this out for me, Roborough.
I remember some pictures of this Beau being inside, but I was not aware of the restoration being in progress.
So from now on I’m going to keep an eye on their site 😉
On their twitter they say they have one Hercules XVII already and are looking for the other…
This image has cought my eye (sorry, link only):
https://twitter.com/#!/SciTechPreserv/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FIhjbMdhu
I wonder where these plans come from and how detailed they are…:cool:

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By: Roborough - 26th April 2012 at 13:19

The Beaufighter has been inside the storage building since about 2006.
The museum has started on the restoration. The cockpit/nose section is currently on display in the foyer of the main museum as “fundraiser” exhibit.

I believe it will be restored as a 404 sqn aircraft. The main missing items are the engines/cowlings. I think these went into the RAFM Beaufighter when it was restored back in the ’60’s.

Regards
Bill