Beaufighter Engine Restoration News

Warbirds 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.

Since 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.

The Bristol Hercules XVII produced 1,735 hp (1,294 kW) and was produced late in WWII and is a 14-cylinder two-row radial aircraft engine designed by Sir Roy Fedden and produced by the Bristol Engine Company and with many Fedden engines features the unique sleeve valve design. Beaufighters were predominantly fitted with Bristol Hercules and 3-bladed constant-speed propellers although there were a number of Rolls-Royce Merlin XX-powered Mk IIF versions produced. The series XVII Bristol Hercules was the ultimate development of the wartime Hercules and regarded as a reliable and powerful power plant, well-liked by pilots and service crews.

The engine work will commence as with all radial engines with assembly of the “cores” consisting of the cylinder block, crankshaft master con rod/con rods and timing gear. Once the cores are built the fitting of the cylinders, sleeve valves and cylinder heads will then take place with the carburetors and accessories. Each component has to be carefully cleaned, tested and measured to ensure it meets the ultimate fine clearances which were a feature of the Bristol design. Peter Brooke has a long and distinguished career as a master engine rebuilder and is the right man in the right place for the completion of this work.

Work is now due to commence on the construction of the engines over the next year and it will be completed as soon as possible although as always the completion date is subject to any unexpected issues along the way. Peter Brooke is currently finalizing the rebuild of the final two Jacobs R-775 A2 7 cylinder engine for the Fokker FVIIB “Southern Cross” replica for the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) and work on the Hercules will commence in earnest very soon.

Given the availability of the new spare parts the Hercules engines are expected to be highly reliable and obtain a long service life. The rebuilds will give the two Beaufighter projects a much needed boost, as the engines have been a major hurdle for the project for several decades. The other hurdle to be overcome has been the access to suitable propellers and this issue is now being solved through the manufacture of new blades for the props. Suitable hubs and accessories are already in hand for these units.

Now it’s all very well to have engines and props but what about a Beaufighter to mount them on?  Well over the years HARS and Robert Grienert’s Historical Aircraft Restorations Limited, located within the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society’s (HARS) modern complex at Albion Park, NSW have been collecting Bristol Beaufighter airframes and components. Much work has already been completed including the completion of several nose sections for various museums and preliminary work on a fuselage and other parts for the Beaufighter. Soon the Beaufighter will reenter the Albion Park workshop to begin the full restoration of the aircraft to airworthy status. More detail as to the identity and model of this will be published when this work recommences.

Are you a Qualified Engineer?

With the expansion of work into this project a fantastic opportunity is also available to suitably qualified engineers with experience and interest in Radial aircraft engines to work in the workshop in the restoration of these engines and expressions of interest can be forwarded to Peter Brooke on Phone 0418 712135.  Resumes can be sent by email to Peter Brook

Warbirds Online wishes to thank Peter Brooke and Historical Aircraft Engines and Robert Grienert’s Historical Aircraft Restorations Limited for their help in allowing us to report on their work. There can’t be a single Warbird enthusiast who can’t wait to see a Beaufighter fly again.

© John Parker 2019