WIX Archives
Beaufort info from vintage-and-warbirds@yahoogroups.com
Posted by bdk on Fri Mar 21, 2003 04:51:42 PM
In reply top null posted by null on null
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 22:26:11 -0000
From: "Andy Appleton"
Subject: Bristol Beaufort on the move
I received this today, if anyone wants any more information, let me
know. The sections were loaded up 19th + 20th March.
"If anyone is heading on Highway 10 in the USA over the next few
days they may well see the wonderful sight of the Bristol Beaufort
nose section, mid fuselage section and gun turret, and rear fuselage
and tail sections heading East for Bristol Heritage Collection,
Nashville. The aircraft sections took a day to load from the MARC
compound at Chino, California, and the 2,600 mile journey will take
around four days
When the aircraft sections arrive in Nashville they will be taken to
Stripmasters Inc., where they will searched for serial numbers, and
photographed etc., before being cleaned by beed blasting, and also
blasting with dry ice, a relatively new method that removes the old
paint and years of surface corrosion without actually harming the
metal.
From there, the sections will be taken to Hassel Field, Clifton,
Tennessee home of the new BHC restoration shop to join the Lysander
and the Swordfish, where the various sections will be set in jigs
prior to the long restoration.
As it was an Australian-built Mk V111 Beaufort, the aircraft had
Pratt & Whitney engines, which makes it a little easier to find
engines and parts in the US.
Next month the main large wing centre section and outer wing
sections will be moved in from California and the same process
applied, before starting on moving the Bolingbroke sections into
Tennessee.
Bristol Heritage Collection is a 501(c)3 tax exempt charity as
recognised by the IRS and any help in the form of donations or
pledges, especially from Australians in the US would be warmly
welcomed."
The Beaufort sections were recovered from PNG in the 1970's, and
transported to Chino. Several bits have already been used in
restorations, including the Beaufort shell at the RAF Museum. The
Lysander and Swordfish Mk.2 are ex Canadian Air Force, I believe the
Lysander is ex RCAF 1176. Swordfish is currently unidentified, but
served with RAF prior to RCAF.
If anyone wants more details, please email me.
cheers,
Andy Appleton
Filton Airfield Enthusiasts Website
Bristol Aircraft Worldwide Survey
http://www.filton.flyer.co.uk