RAAF Caribou A4-228 – Restoration update

Excellent progress has been made in reassembly and restoration of DHC 4 Caribou A4-228 at the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre based at Caboolture Qld. Since our last update in September 2016 most of the remaining components of the airframe have been cleaned, refurbished and refitted.

The entire empennage assembly has been refitted and all controls connected.  The tail was fitted in stages starting with the horizontal stabilizer, fin and then the rudder. The Pratt and Whitney R2000 engines have been fully cleaned and refurbished and have been fitted to the airframe awaiting their cowlings. The correct engine mount nuts have had to be sourced and will have to all be fitted to secure the engines in place prior to the cowling installation, however this should take place very soon.

With the fitting of the engines, the center of balance of the Caribou has been largely restored and it was possible to refit the outer wing panels which was completed over the 22nd and 23rd of October 2016. The exercise was quite complex and completed with the aid of large Hyabb truck and supplied by Robin Smith and driver operator Jason.

Once the Cowlings are fitted the props will be temporally placed on the engines and then when some missing prop components are located they will be permanently fitted. It is hoped to have the aircraft cosmetically complete for display at the Wings and Wheels display at Caboolture Airfield.

Thanks go to all the volunteers involved over the past month on the latest phase including Jeff, Ken, Jock, Garry, Ken, Strawb, Frank, Rod, Ralph, Ron, Mal, Ted and more volunteers who have generously given their time to get A4-228 up to display standard.

The end game of all of this work is to have the aircraft displayed in a condition where it is fully functional and as many of its systems operational as possible. Due to the conditions of sale the aircraft will never fly again but it will at least to all intents and purposes be “live”.

Warbirds Online will continue to provide ongoing reports as we approach the completion of this mammoth rescue and preservation effort on DHC 4 Caribou A4-228.

© John Parker 2016