Queensland Beaufort Restoration Project
Our group is a "private" restoration
group, we are Heritage listed and associated with the Beaufort
Association and the Caboolture Warplane Museum (restoring a Mustang
& Wirraways). We have four paid employees & several volunteers.
We are doing work for other museums as well, including
the Australian
War Memorial. When finished the aircraft will probably
be based at Caboolture just north of Brisbane but like
the Hudson
will be flown around Australia at various airshows. We
are in the process of building a comprehensive website
covering A9-141 in detail (& all other RAAF Beauforts).
Acquiring Wrecks
We collected the entire aircraft apart from
engines & guns (both salvaged by RAAF) and stolen items like
instruments etc. New parts are limited to things like bomb doors
(none left anywhere) , damaged skin , hydraulic & electrical
lines , elastic cable (undercarriage-door retract) , different
wheels/tires (old size tires no longer available) etc.
Boomerang Projects
We have provided space in our "shed" for
2 Boomerang's. Greg Batts is the owner of Boomerang, A46-54
Modernization of Warbirds
We have had to make some changes to comply
with modern safety practices like new engine firewalls in stainless
steel, replace the original solid steel engine-mounts with contemporary
1940's rubber-bush type, modern disc brakes (old brakes were
cable
operated!) and the extra hydraulic drives to run the
new systems. The plane will fly in its full original wartime
markings (we have
reserved the civil registration of VH-KTW) we have
the full service history of 141 & other aircraft.
Seeking Funds
We are currently seeking funding
so that we can get her flying before too many of the
Beaufort
Associations
members "drop off the perch". As much of the original
141 is being used. She has damage to the rear fuselage when it
ground looped on take off. We are replacing broken frames &
stringers with those from another aircraft. The plane will be
owned privately but will be run in association with a heritage
museum. We will have VERY strict rules as to who can fly the aircraft
& how it is flown -- at present we only know 2 pilots who
have the required experience & discipline (ie
engine handling skills, maximum bank in flight will
be restricted to less than
45deg).
We have launched "Friends of the Beaufort"
to help people keep in touch with the project. For a membership
of Aust $25.00 per year you get a membership certificate , fact
& history sheet on A9-141 , newsletters (with crew interviews)
, free access to the hanger , deals on specials like the limed-edition
print etc.
Owner - Ralph Cusack
