Warbirds Online visited the project to restore DAP Beaufort A9-141 at Caboolture in September 2015. Work on the aircraft has recommenced in its new location at the Caboolture “Big Hangar” which is its new permanent home.
New storage and a mezzanine construction has allowed the Beaufort to again be moved in the hangar to its ideal location. The aircraft has been again raised at the tail to level it for easy access.
Restoration work has commenced again on the cowling and exhaust area of the aircraft and a trial fitting of the exhausts has been successful. This demonstrates that these assemblies are straight and undistorted and also fit correctly within the cowling and nacelles of the Beaufort.
The fit of the exhausts is critical so that they transmit the exhaust safely away from the aircraft and that they are not too close to the airframe – especially critical for a flying aircraft!
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- Exhaust trial fit
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- Nacelle & exhaust trial fit
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- Restoration work recommences
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- Beaufort A9-141 in hangar
In the coming weeks more organization of the hangar will take place to allow completion of the much delayed wing and the attachment of the other completed wing. Work is also proceeding to organize and recommission all of the stored tools and equipment.
The reorganization of the hangar has also allowed work to recommence on some of the other aircraft in the collection including, Jack McDonalds Hawker Demon which we will report on later this month.
Warbirds Online will continue to report on the progress on the restoration of Beaufort A9-141 as it happens.
© John Parker 2015